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IN YONKERS: 



ITS ORIGIN AND PROGRESS. 



T 



AGNES E. KIRKWOOD. 



Write this for a memorial in a book. Exod. 17:14. 

Now go, write it before them in a table and note it in a book, that it may be for the 
time to come. Isa. 30:8. 

It is the privilege of history to bring back things long obscured by time or sinking 
into oblivion. Poulson's History of Holderness. 



JL.DEC 16 189! 



150 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK. 



NVt <\N 



■Ynfr 



COPYRIGHTED 1889, 
BY AGNES E. KIRKWOOD, 



OJ 

V 



TO THE MEMORY 
OF 

WHOSE EARLY AND PRAYERFUL INSTRUCTION IN THE 

HOLY SCRIPTURES WAS A TREASURE TO ME 

ON EARTH AND WHOSE LOVE IS NOW 

A TREASURE IN HEAVEN. 



THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 



The chapters contained in this book were written for the " Yonkers 
Gazette," with no thought of their further publication. As the work pro- 
gressed it met with the hearty approbation of many who are interested 
in the work of the Churches and Sunday-schools of Yonkers, and in com- 
pliance with their wishes it is issued in its present form. 

The extent of the work at its first publication rendered unadvisable 
its publication in its entirety. It has therefore been revised, and in its 
revision nothing has been taken from it but some programmes and ad- 
dresses delivered on various occasions in connection with the Sunday- 
schools which had no important bearing on their history. 

It is due the memory of the writer's first Sunday-school teacher, her 
eldest sister, to acknowledge that in all probability the many difficulties 
and discouragements which seemed almost insurmountable in its writing 
would not have been overcome but for her helpful sympathy and undis- 
courageable spirit, ever hopeful and brave and undismayed by apparent 
defeat. 

The writer here wishes to gratefully record her appreciation of the 
assistance of Miss Louisa Jones, which has enabled her to proceed with 
this publication. Also for help and encouragement from the Rev. Lyman 
Cobb, Jr., and Mr. Charles Collins. 

The author would acknowledge her obligations to the clergymen of 
the various Churches who have in reply to her inquiries communicated 
much valuable information concerning the Churches. 

The author would also take this opportunity of expressing her grateful 
appreciation of the unfailing kindness of all who have assisted towards its 
completion. To some perhaps the chapters will seem diffuse, but they are 
not written for any other than a local or antiquarian public, which will be 
grateful for the author's inclusive spirit. 

After having received such kindly assistance, it would be ungrateful 
to dwell on the disadvantages in the midst of which the work has been 
written. The writer has done her utmost under the circumstances, and 



8 THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 

though she has fallen short of her ideal, she is conscious of the necessary- 
imperfections of her work, for it is hardly possible that she should have 
escaped errors in a book involving the examination of numerous reports 
with their conflicting statements in regard to chronological records. 

Preventive work is not so popular as reformatory work. The results 
of the latter are apparent ; but preventive work supersedes reform. All 
labor for rescue and reform emphasizes the necessity of preventive work, 
and this is the aim of the teachers in our Sunday-schools. That their 
efforts in the past have been abundantly blessed is verified by the records 
of our schools ; for out of the scholars and teachers of the Yonkers Sun- 
day-schools have sprung those who are now pillars there and elsewhere, 
honored Church officers, elders and deacons, efficient workers in Sunday- 
schools and other Christian effort, ministers of the Gospel, and men who 
gave their young lives for their country in the civil war. 

It is hoped that this work, for its seriousness of purpose and diligence 
of research, will not be found an unacceptable contribution to the eccle- 
siastical history of Yonkers, and that the record of work done in the 
Churches and Sunday-schools of Yonkers may be an encouragement to 
all who are endeavoring to hold up Jesus Christ and him crucified, the 
world's Light, Hope, Refuge, and Glory. 



COMMENDATIONS OF THIS WORK. 



From B. F. Jacobs, of Chicago, the Author of the International System of Sunday-school 
Lessons, which are now universally used, is the Chairman of the Executive Com- 
mittee, comprising over sixty members. 

Chicago, December 5, 1887. 

Dear Miss Kirkwood:— I am interested in the Sunday-school work, and consequently 
I am interested in the history and progress of the work in every place. I send you a copy of 
the reports, which I hope will be helpful to you in the preparation of your articles for the 
press. I think their publication will do good; it increases the interest and arouses enthu- 
siasm. We have had a large experience with many similar publications in the West, but 
your history goes back towards the beginning of the Sunday-school work in this country, 
and necessarily ought to be more interesting than those of later date. I sincerely wish you 
every success in your effort. 

Yours in the good work, 

B. F. JACOBS. 

From Rev. John H. Vincent, D. D., Chairman of the International Lesson Committee. 

Boston, Mass., December 28, 18S7. 
Dear Miss Kirkwood:— The plan you propose seems very good and useful, and the 
people of Yonkers will undoubtedly appreciate it. 

Yours in Sunday-school bonds, 

J. H. VINCENT. 

From Rev. A. F. Schauffler, D. D., President of the Missionary Training Classes in the Union 
Theological Seminary, New York, and Leader of Sunday-school Teachers' Normal 
Class, New York. 

260 Fourth Avenue. November 28, 1887. 

My Dear Miss Kirkwood:— Your plan of passing the Sunday-schools of Yonkers in 
review is a very good one, and will help those who are trying to do good work for our com- 
mon Master. You have my best wishes in this work I am sure. 

Yours truly. 

A. F. SCHAUFFLER. 

From the Secretary of Missions for New York District of the American Sunday-school Union, 
Philadelphia. 

New York, October 18, 1888. 

Your history of the origin and progress of Sunday-school work in Yonkers will be of 

great value as a permanent record of work of this branch of church service. It is a matter of 

surprise that the historical interests of Sunday-school work have been so generally neglected. 

I am sure those connected with your schools will duly appreciate your labors in the 

early history of Bible Schools in your city. Wishing you abundant success, 

I am very cordially yours. 

L. MILTON MARSH. 

From Rev. H. M. Baird, D. D., Professor in the University of the City of New York. 

Yonkers, April 6, 1888. 
I return the slips which you were so kind as to send me. So far as I have had time to 
examine them you seem to have made a very interesting and complete series of papers on 
the Sunday-schools of this city. 

I remain yours very truly, 

HENRY M. BAIRD. 



IO COMMENDATIONS OF THIS WORK. 

From Rev. William S. Langford, D. D., Secretary of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary 
Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, of America. 

21-26 Bible House, New York, July 25, 1888. 
I have read with much interest the papers containing an historical account of the 
Churches and Sunday-schools in Yonkers. You are engaged in a most laudable work, and 
your labors deserve the unqualified appreciation of the people of Yonkers. You are certainly 
supplying important record of local history which will be of permanent value. 

Faithfully yours, 

WM. S. LANGFORD. 

From Rev. John Hall, D. D., Pastor Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. 

New York, January 14, 1888. 
Dear Miss Kirkwood: — I think the writer of these papers quite capable of producing 

an interesting little book It is good to use the pen for high objects. The reward comes 

sooner or later, mostly later. Yours most truly, 

J. HALL. 

From Rev. William M. Taylor, D. D., Pastor of the Broadway Tabernacle Church. 

5 West Thirty-fifth Street, New York, May 31, 1889. 

Dear Miss Kirkwood:— I have read with attention the historical sketches of the 
Churches and Sunday-schools in Yonkers which you have been good enough to send me, 
and have been specially interested in those which treat of the Westminster Presbyterian 
Church. Such historical details as you give increase in value as time passes, while their 
present interest is very great. 

Will you please put me down as a subscriber for two copies of the book. 

Yours faithfully, 

WM. M. TAYLOR. 

From Rev. Charles E. Allison, Pastor of the Dayspring Presbyterian Church, Yonkers. 

The history of the Yonkers Sunday-schools testifies to the patient and painstaking 
research of the author, Miss Agnes E. Kirkwood. The full value of her work will be more 
appreciated when years shall have passed and its pages shall be perused by such as delight 
to search for sources of influences, potent when the characters of thousands were moulded. 

CHARLES E. ALLISON. 

From a former pastor of the Reformed Church in Yonkers, Rev.' Victor M. Hulbert, D. D. 
148 North Avenue, Battle Creek, Mich., April 28, 1888. 
In the preparation of your several articles on Sunday-school Work in Yonkers I have 
been agreeably surprised at the research, scope, accuracy, and style of your perlormance, 
as if Providence had qualified and marked you out for that specific work. 

With much regard, very truly yours, 

V. M. HULBERT. 
From Rev. John Reid, D. D. - 

First Presbyterian Manse, Yonkers, N. Y., December 22, 1888. 
Historical beginnings are vital as well as interesting; passing time always adds to 
their value. 

Personally interested in this love's labor of one of my own church members, I have 
known, perhaps more intimately than most, the care which Miss Kirkwood has expended on 
her work. With the greatest patience and fidelity, consulting innumerable sources of infor- 
mation, comparing conflicting traditions, and reaching the truth where often it was hidden 
and its presence least suspected, she has gathered up the fragments of a most interesting 
part of the religious life of our community. The Schools are happily identified with the 
Churches in these valuable articles. All who are interested in our Sunday-schools owe a debt 
of gratitude to this patient worker in a new field. I wish this book might find its way into 

every home of our church-going people. TnTr ^ t,™™ 

JOHN REID. 



COMMENDATIONS OF THIS WORK. II 

From Rev. David Cole, D. D., Pastor of the Reformed Church of Yonkers, N. Y. 

September 13, 1889. 

Miss Kirkwood's History of the Sunday-schools of Yonkers speaks for itself as a monu- 
ment to a tireless industry and perseverance. 

It surpasses wonder that at this late date the early facts of our older schools— two over 
sixty years old, one about fifty, a fourth is forty, and two others more than thirty — have been 
brought together and recorded with so much of fulness and such self-satisfying accuracy. 

The courage with which this history was begun, the perseverance with which it has 
been carried on, the fulness and accuracy of the results that have been recorded, reflect great 
credit upon the compiler. A little later on in time this work would have been impossible. 
Our lovers of Sunday-schools are brought under special obligation by the respected and faith- 
ful compiler of this work. 

I cheerfully give my own subscription for the forthcoming book, and shall be glad to 
find that it is generally taken by the Christian people of our city. 

DAVID COLE, 
Parsonage of the Reformed Church of Yonkers. 

From Rev. A. B. Carver. 

St. John's Rectory, Yonkers, N. Y., June 22, 1888. 

Miss Kirkwood:— You certainly deserve much credit for your enthusiasm and practical 
interest in the Sunday-school work of Yonkers. All who read your book will be well 
informed in this important part of our Church work, and will certainly wish for it a large 
circulation. Sincerely yours, 

ALEX. B. CARVER, Rector of St. John's Church. 

From Rev. W. H. Mills, D. D. 

Yonkers, September 10, 1889. 

I most cordially concur with the above recommendation. 

WM. H. MILLS, Rector of St. Paul's. 

From Rev. James T. Bixby, Ph. D., Pastor of the Unitarian Congregational Church, Yonkers. 

Yonkers, N. Y., December 27, 1888. 
I find that your account of the Churches and Sunday-schools of Yonkers makes a very 
interesting and valuable history. You have shown very great industry, and all interested in 
the religious life of the city of Yonkers ought to appreciate your faithful work. I hope your 
book will receive the welcome it deserves. 

Yours cordially, 

JAMES T. BIXBY. 
From Rev. C. W. Millard, Formerly Pastor of Central Methodist Episcopal Church, Yonkers. 

28 Hawthorne Avenue, February 25, 1888. 
Miss A. E. Kirkwood:— Your faithful, painstaking labors as Sunday-school historian 
of Yonkers are receiving, as they deserve, the praise of appreciative minds. You are doing a 
needed work remarkably well. 

Yours fraternally, 

C. W. MILLARD. 

From Rev. De Los Lull, Formerly Pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, Yonkers, 
and author of "Father Solon; or, The Helper Helped." 

Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, Washington Square, N. Y., June 28, 1888. 
I am pleased that you are having so much encouragement to put your papers on the 
Sunday-schools of Yonkers in book form. I feel that by so doing you will render valuable 
service to the general work, by the example of preserving local Sunday-school histories, by 
lifting local work and workers into a measure of prominence, and by the stimulus so doing 
will give to Churches, Schools, and Sunday-school workers an impulse to try to do good work 
for permanent public record. As a specimen of what may be clone for every town in this 
line, your book should have a wide circulation. Put me down as a subscriber. 

I remain as ever yours sincerely, 

DE LOS LULL. 



12 COMMENDATIONS OF THIS WORK. 

From Rev. George E. Strobridge, D. D. 

Yonkers, September 11, 1889. 
Miss Kirkwood is deserving the liberal patronage of this community as a reward for 
the thoroughness and fidelity with winch she has treated the interesting subject herewith 
presented. 

Her patience, industry, and indefatigable research will doubtless be appreciated as 
their fruit appears in these interesting pages, and it is to be expected that the book will have 
the large sale it so richly merits. 

G. E. STROBRIDGE, 

Pastor First Methodist Episcopal Church. 

From Rev. Henry M. Sanders, Formerly Pastor of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, 
Yonkers. 

433 Fifth Avenue, New York, June 16, 1888. 

I have read your articles on the history of the Sunday- schools in Yonkers, giving espe- 
cial attention to those relating to the Baptist Church. So far as my personal knowledge 
extends 1 find them accurate and comprehensive. 

They are written in an interesting and impressive manner and ought to stimulate 
increased effort in a department of Christian work which in its history has been a veritable 
" romance of Providence." 

Wishing you success in the further prosecution of your work, 

I am yours sincerely, 

HENRY M. SANDERS. 
From Rev. Alvah S. Hobart, D. D. 

Yonkers, September 14, 1889. 

Miss Agnes Kirkwood:— Allow me to say that your efforts in preserving the items of 
Church and Sunday-school history in Yonkers are commendable and worthy of recognition. 
ALVAH S. HOBART, 

Pastor of Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, Yonkers. 

The writer has also received commendatory notices of her work from 

The Rt. Rev. William F. Nichol, Bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio. 

Albert Woodruff, President of the Foreign Sunday-school Association. 

Rev. James A. Worden, D. D., Superintendent of the Sabbath-school and Missionary 
Department of the Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-school work. 

Rev. Abram Beach Carter. D. D., and Rev. A. B. Atkins, D. D., former rectors of 
St. John's Church, Yonkers. 

Rev. Dwight M. Seward, D. D., and Rev. T. Ralston Smith, D. D., former pastors of 
the First Presbyterian Church, Yonkers. 

Rev. Samuel T. Carter and Rev. Edward Caldwell Moore, former pastors of 
the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Ycnkers. 

Rev. A. A. Livermore, D. D., President of Meadville Theological School, Pa., and for- 
mer pastor of the Unitarian Congregational Church, Yonkers. 

Rev. Augustus Ulmann, rector of Christ Church, Yonkers. 

Rev. W. T. Crafts, pastor of the First Union Presbyterian Church, New York. 

Rev. Theodore J. Wylie, D. D., pastor of the First Reformed Church in Philadelphia. 

Also a number of Sabbath school superintendents and teachers. 



Contents. 



CHAPTER I. 

Extracts from Church History — St. John's Church and Sunday-school , 15 

CHAPTER II. 
The Mile Square Sunday-school^ 63 

CHAPTER III. 

St. John's Episcopal Church (at Tuckahoe) and Sunday-school J 68 

CHAPTER IV. 

First Methodist Episcopal Church of Yonkers (at Tuckahoe) and Sunday- 
school 71 

CHAPTER V. 

The First Methodist Episcopal Church and Sunday-school 75 

CHAPTER VI. 
The Reformed Church and Sunday-school 115 

CHAPTER VII. 

St. Mary's Roman-catholic Church, Parish, and Sunday-school 150 

CHAPTER VIII. 

The Warburton Avenue Baptist Church (formerly Mount Olivet Baptist) and 

Sunday-school 167 

CHAPTER IX. 

The First Presbyterian Church and Sunday-school 212 

CHAPTER X. 
The Westminster Presbyterian Church and Sunday-school 262 

CHAPTER XI. 

The First Unitarian Congregational Church and Sunday-school 313 

CHAPTER XII. 

St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Sunday-school 327 



14 CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

The Nepperhan Avenue Baptist Mission Sunday-school 347 

CHAPTER XIV. 
Woodhill Union Chapel Sunday-school 375 

CHAPTER XV. 

Central Methodist Church and Sunday-school 380 

CHAPTER XVI. 
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and Sunday-school 398 

CHAPTER XVII. 
St. John's German Evangelical Lutheran Church and Sunday-school 408 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

Christ Episcopal Church and Sunday-school 416 

CHAPTER XIX. 

The St. Joseph's Roman-catholic Church and Parish Schools 432 

CHAPTER XX. 

The Dayspring Presbyterian Church and Sunday-school 438 

CHAPTER XXI. 

The Messiah Baptist Colored Church and Sunday-school 473 

CHAPTER XXII. 
The Glenwood Summer Sunday-school 486 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

The German Methodist Episcopal Church and Sunday-school 487 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

The Ludlow Street Chapel (Mission of the Reformed Church) Sunday-school 494 

CHAPTER XXV. 

The Immanuel Chapel (Mission of the First Presbyterian Church) Sunday- 
school 502 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

A Few Words in Conclusion 514 

Appendix 521 



CHURCH 



AND 



SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK 

IN YONKERS. 



CHAPTER I. 

EXTRACTS FROM CHURCH HISTORY — ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 
AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

In giving the origin of Church and Sunday-school 
work in Yonkers it appears proper to state by whom and 
when the first religious effort was put forth and each suc- 
cessive step which led to the organization of the first 
Church and Sunday-school. This will be shown in the 
following interesting extracts taken from Robert Bolton's 
" History of the Church in Westchester County." 

In the year 1642 (says the historian of the " New 
Netherlands ") Mr. John Throckmorton and thirty-five 
associates, who had been driven by the fiery Hugh Peters, 
with Roger Williams, from Massachusetts, procured per- 
mission from the Dutch authorities of New York to settle 
some twelve miles east of the Manhattans, at a place called 
Westchester, but which the Dutch at the time named 
Vredeland, or Land of Peace, a meet appellation for the 
spot selected as a place of refuge by those who were 
bruised and broken down by religious persecution. 

In his petition to the Dutch authorities on the 2d of 
October, 1642, he solicits permission to settle down within 
the limits of the New Netherlands. " There I wish to 
reside in peace and enjoy the same privileges as Dutch 
subjects, and to be favored with the free exercise of reli- 



l6 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

gion." But even here the persecuted Puritan was destined 
to find, like the dove of Noah's ark, no place on which to 
rest the sole of his foot, for here it was that several mem- 
bers of his family fell in the Indian massacre which took 
place on the 6th of October, 1643. 

The next settlement in Vredeland was upon the site 
of the village of Westchester in 1654. At this early period 
public worship appears to have been regularly established 
according to the Independent or Congregational order. 

The Rev. John Megapolensis in a letter to the Classis 
of Amsterdam, dated the 5th of August, 1657, says: "The 
inhabitants of this place — Oost-dorp or Westchester — are 
Puritans, alias Independents. They have no preacher, but 
they hold Sunday meetings, reading from an English book 
a sermon and making a prayer." The Dutch Commissions 
visited them in December, 1656, and reported their mode of 
worship as follows : " After dinner Cornelius Van Ruyven 
went to the house where they held their Sunday meeting 
to see their mode of worship. There I found a gathering 
of about fifteen men and ten or twelve women. Mr. Baly 
said the prayer, after which Robert Bassett read from a 
printed book a sermon composed by an English clergy- 
man. After the reading Mr. Baly gave out another prayer 
and sang a Psalm, and they all separated." 

All ecclesiastical business at this period was conducted 
by the town assembled in town meeting. After having 
disposed of secular matters they attended to the business 
of the church ; therefore the early history of religion was 
found principally in the town records. 

Under date of July 29, 1674, twenty years after, appears 
the name of the Rev. Ezekiel Fogge, probably the first 
Independent minister that officiated at that place. The 
following was taken from the town books : 

"On the nth of February, 1680, there was sprinkled 
with water by Morgan Jones (what they call baptizing), 
William Hunt, son of John Hunt, of Westchester. Wit- 
nesses present, Joseph Hunt and Bridget Waters." 

The English laying claim to New Netherlands, it was 
surrendered to them by the Dutch in 1664. The first 
English governor, Richard Nicolls, for the encourage- 



ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 1 7 

ment of settlers published an instrument in which he de- 
clared " in all territories of His Royal Highness liberty of 
conscience is allowed, provided such liberty is not con- 
verted into licentiousness or the disturbance of others in 
the exercise of the Protestant religion." 

Immediately after the surrender it became a matter of 
indispensable and pressing necessity that laws and ordi- 
nances should be passed adapted for the then condition of 
the colony. Whereupon Gov. Nicolls invited the inhab- 
itants of Westchester and other towns upon Long Island 
to send delegates to a general meeting at Hempstead on 
the 28th of February, 1665. 

The convention met at the time appointed. 

At this meeting a body of laws and ordinances was 
promulgated for the future government of the province, 
which were called by way of distinction " The Duke's 
Laws." 

Among the principal provisions of the code are the 
following : 

" Whereas the public worship of God is much discred- 
ited for the want of painful and able ministers to instruct 
the people in true religion, and for want of convenient 
places capable to receive any assembly of people in a de- 
cent manner for celebrating God's holy ordinances, 

11 Ordered, that a church shall be built in the most 
convenient part of each parish capable to receive and 
accommodate two hundred persons. To prevent scandal- 
ous and ignorant pretenders to the ministry from intruding 
themselves as teachers, no minister shall be admitted to 
officiate within the Government but such as shall produce 
testimonials to the Governor that he received ordination 
either from some Protestant bishop or ministers, within 
some part of His Majesty's dominions or the dominions of 
any foreign prince of the reformed religion ; upon which 
testimonials the Governor shall induct the said minister 
into the parish that shall make presentation of him." 

" The Duke's Laws " continued to govern the province 
until the first Provincial Assembly in 1683. At this time 
the dissenting teachers officiated. Such, however, was the 
fearful progress of Sabbath-breaking and other profanities 



1 8 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

that the Court of Sessions for Westchester County issued 
the following proclamation, 1693 : 

" Upon complaint made to the Court, concerning greate 
disorders and prophainness in the County upon the Sabbath 
days, and for regulation and prevention of the same, the 
Court orders that 

" Whereas the publick worshipp of God is much neg- 
lected, for want of able ministers to instruct the people 
every Sabbath day and on such publick days of fasting and 
thanksgiving that are appointed, or shall hereafter be ap- 
pointed, by His Excellancy, the Governor and Council, and 
General Assembly ; 

"And whereas we find that severall places within 
this County are not in a capacity to maintaine a minister, 
whereby great debaucheries and prophainness are com- 
mitted on the Lord's days, and that parents and masters 
of families doe not traine up youths and servants in the 
feare of God and observing His holy Commandments, 
although His Excellancy hath taken speedy care, after his 
arrivall, for the suppressing of vice and encouragement of 
virtue and observance of the Lord's day, and by his pro- 
clamation, which hath beene published in this County, yett 
very many takes noe notice thereof ; 

"It is therefore ordered yett within every Towne pre- 
cinct and pattent within this County due observance of the 
Lord's day shall be kept, and for want of an able minister 
the inhabitants shall employ a reader to read out of good 
books, two Sermonds every Lord's day, (that is to say) one 
in the forenoone betweene 9 and 1 1 o'clock, and one in the 
afternoone, betweene 2 and 4 o'clock, at such places as shall 
be thought meet and convenient by ye inhabitants of such 
Towne precinct and pattent, att a meeting ordered by the 
next Justice of the Peace ; provided that if the inhabitants 
shall not appoynt such place as aforesaid, that then the 
next Justice of the Peace shall appoynt a place ; and in case 
any person or persons shall make derission or make any 
unseemly behaviour in the time of publick worshipp, that 
then the said Justice of the Peace of the said place or pre- 
cincts shall committ all such deriders to the stocks one 
houre, otherwise shall pay tenn shillings, to be levyed by 



ST. JOHN S CHURCH. 19 

the constable, the one half to ye constable and the other 
half to be employed towards relief of the poor of said 
place. 

" It 's alsoe ordered : 

" That noe person shall sitt tippleing in a publick orde- 
nary on the Lord's day, upon penalty as aforesaid, or at 
other times on penalty as the law directs, and that any 
persons inhabiting within this County shall not travill on 
the Lord's day, without permition and make known their 
ocation to the next Justice of the Peace, upon penalty as 
aforesaid, likewise noe person or persons shall presume to 
go a fishing, shooting, or hunting of horses, or any other 
sports which makes breach of the Sabbath, upon ye penalty 
as aforesaid, provided, that this order shall not prohibit 
any stranger of meat and drinke for his refreshment on 
the Sabbath day. 

" Alsoe any Justice of the Peace which shall neglect or 
refuse to grant his warrant to the constable, for laying such 
fines upon the breakers of the Sabbath, shall forfeit twenty 
shillings for every such neglect as aforesaid, and that the 
constable of every respective towne that shall publish this 
order in his respective place, precinct or pattent, and inspect 
and give notice of all Sabbath breakers to the next Justice 
of the Peace, on penalty as aforesaid, for every such his 
neglect." 

But vice of every kind prevailed in spite of governors, 
proclamations, military orders, and judicial acts, and little 
good seemed to be accomplished by non-Episcopal minis- 
trations ; and such was the state of affairs that the historian 
says, " There seems to have been no face of the Church of 
England in the colony." 

Governor Col. Fletcher proposed a settling of an able 
ministry as one of the best and surest means of suppress- 
ing vice and profanity. The majority of the Assembly 
were entirely disinclined to the scheme, which occasioned 
a warm rebuke from the Governor in his speech at the close 
of the Session in these words : 

" Gentlemen, the first thing that I did recommend to 
you, at our last meeting, was to provide for a ministry, and 
nothing is done in it. There are none of you but that are 



20 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

big" with the privileges of Englishmen and Magna Charta, 
which is your right, and the same law doth provide for the, 
Religion of the Church of England, against Sabbath-break- 
ing and other profanity. But as you have made it last and 
postponed it in this Session, I hope you will begin it the 
next meeting and do somewhat towards it effectually." 

The determination of the Governor at length induced 
the house to yield, and a " bill was brought in for settling 
the ministry and raising a maintenance for them." This 
bill was entitled "An act for settling a ministry and raising 
a maintenance for them in the city of New York, counties 
of Richmond, Westchester, Queens. Passed the 24th of 
March, 1693." 

The act did not take effect until about the year 1702. 

In June 16, 1701, the Venerable Society for the Propa- 
gation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts was incorporated by 
royal charter from King William III. 

The principal object of this society was : " To send 
clergymen to the colonies ; and the society to earnestly 
request and beseech all persons concerned that they recom- 
mend no man out of favor or affection or any other worldly 
consideration, but with a sincere regard to the honor of 
Almighty God and our blessed Saviour as they tender the 
interest of the Christian religion and the good of men's 
souls." 

Of this Society the Hon. Rufus King said : " The So- 
ciety for the Propagating of the Gospel is the brightest 
light shining in the candlestick of the Reformation ; it has 
done more and is doing more for the cause of Christ than 
all Christendom, united." 

On the seal of the Venerable Society for the Propaga- 
tion of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and the oldest mis- 
sionary society in the Protestant world, are inscribed these 
words : 

" Sigillvm Societatis De Promovendo Evangelio in 
Partibvs Transmarinis. The seal of the Society for pro- 
moting the Gospel in lands beyond the sea." And under- 
neath these words : " Thanks be to God for the Venerable 
Propagation Society." 

There is also a picture of a sailing vessel with the sails 



ST. JOHN S CHURCH. 21 

spread, and on a flying pennant, on the main mast, is in- 
scribed, " Transiens Adiuvanos." 

Also a figure on the seal, a mythological representation 
of the sun, in the upper portion of the seal, probably rep- 
resenting the Sun of Righteousness as beaming benig- 
nantly on the missionary ship. On the prow of the vessel 
a man is standing, clad in a Bishop's robe, with an open 
Bible in his hand, while on the bluff to which the ship is, 
approaching there is a group of natives with beaming faces 
and extended hands to welcome the missionaries. 

In regard to the society's missionaries sent to this 
country, says the historian : " I believe the Christian Church 
could never boast of better men, take them as a body. 
They chose their profession from a pure love to religion 
and the cause of Christ, not from the love of money or the 
praise of men. They sought for no honor but that which 
cometh alone from God and an approving conscience. Like 
their beloved Master they were despised and rejected, and 
their religion was everywhere spoken against and vilified. 
As the apostles were a spectacle to men and angels, so 
were these men, and if they suffered not as martyrs, it was 
because the civil authority protected them. They were 
workers, not talkers, in their Lord's vineyard. Their rec- 
ord is in heaven. 

" Yet even in the little that does remain we read a 
narrative not easily paralleled, in at least two noble fea- 
tures of the Church's Missionaries. First, in their patient, 
unflinching endurance : the enthusiasm, not of sentiment, 
but of duty ; taking hold on their mission, as men do on 
the daily work of life, heartily ; and this was the more to 
their honor as they had little oversight save God and their 
own conscience. And secondly, their unbending main- 
tenance of the Church's teachings in her faith, ministry, 
sacraments, and catechism. 

" This again has something in it of the heroic strain, 
for they were surrounded and pressed by every temptation 
life could bring to the concealment or modification of un- 
popular doctrine. But although feeble they were fearless 
men ; their only outcry was for a Bishop to ' visit all the 
churches,' thev said, ' to ordain some, confirm others, and 



22 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

bless all/ Their only quarrel was that he came not. ' We 
have cried/ to use their own bitter words in writing home, 
'till our hearts ache, and ye own 'tis the call and cause of 
God, and yet ye have not heard or have not answered, and 
that's all one.' " 

As early as 1684 Yonkers appears to have been associ- 
ated with Eastchester and Westchester in the support of a 
minister, for on the 2d of April of that year it was resolved, 
at a town meeting held in Westchester, " That the Justices 
and Vestrymen of Westchester, Eastchester, and Yonkers 
do accept of Mr. Warham Mather as our minister for one 
whole year." 

The first mention of the parish of Yonkers occurs in 
an act passed during the first session of the third Assem- 
bly, 5th of King William and Queen Mary, September, 1693. 

The Rev. John Bartow, A. M., was one of the first mis- 
sionaries sent out by the Venerable Propagation Society, 
and the first missionary to Yonkers. Among the questions 
sent by the Bishop of London to be answered by the cler- 
gymen in the province of New York was the following : 

Question — "Have you more cures than one? If you 
have, what are they, and in what manner are they served ?" 

To which Mr. Bartow answered : " I have four towns 
under my cure, Westchester, Eastchester, Yonkers, and 
the Manor of Pelham, of which New Rochelle is a part, in 
whose churches I officiate on Sundays, according to their 
several quotas, on the payment of £50 per annum. I 
preach at Westchester every Lord's day, excepting every 
fourth Sunday at Eastchester, three times in the year at 
Yonkers, and as often as I can at New Rochelle." 

To the Venerable Propagation Society he writes Octo- 
ber 5, 1704, "At Younckers there is a small congregation 
of Dutch who have only a reader, and sometimes they go 
to the church at Westchester." 

In 1702 Rev. John Bartow commenced his services 
within the precinct of Yonkers. On September 5, 1708, he 
writes to the Venerable Society that he occasionally 
preaches at Yonkers, where the population was then 250 
souls. 

On the 4th of August, 1705, another act of General 



ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 23 

Assembly was passed — " An act for the better explaining 
and more effectual putting in execution an act of General 
Assembly, entitled an act for settling a ministry and rais- 
ing a maintenance for them in the city of New York, 
Counties of Richmond, Westchester and Queen's County." 
This act was ratified by Queen Anne on the nth of April, 
1706. 

That the Rev. Mr. Bartow was an earnest, indefatiga- 
ble, patient, and persevering worker, notwithstanding the 
many difficulties which he had to encounter in the prosecu- 
tion of his work, is not only shown from his own letters, 
but from the Venerable Propagation Society's abstracts. 
In a letter to the Secretary of the Venerable Society under 
the following date he writes : 

"Westchester, in New York, in America, 1 
August 14, 1706. J 

"Sir: My great business is to plant the Church of 
England among prejudiced poor and irreligious people, 
who are more apt to receive than to give, who think it a 
hardship to pay their dues, and we dare not use the law 
for fear of bringing an odium on the church, and on all 
occasions expect to be civilly treated by the minister. 

" My task is greater than I can bear ; I will hold out 
as long as I can with submission to the divine will, who 
feedeth the fowls of the air ; trusting he will still feed 
me, by your means, when you come to be sensible of our 
wants. 

" Worthy sir, your most devoted and obliged servant, 

" JOHN BARTOW." 

Then, under date of Westchester, in the province of 
New York, in America, 1st December, 1707, he writes : 

" I have inhabited ever since in the conscientious dis- 
charge of my duty, hardly ever missing to officiate on the 
Lord's day in my parish, and have discharged that duty in 
the Jerseys at Rye or at some other place. 

" I have always been ready to visit the sick when sent 
for, and before frequently, if I knew of it, not refusing in 
time of very mortal diseases, which we have frequently had 
since I came here, frequently riding day and night more 
than ten miles, 1 may say twenty. 



24 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

"I have administered the sacrament of Baptism to a 
great number of people, young and old, and the sacrament 
of the Lord's Supper publickly, three times a year, at the 
three usual feasts, Christmas, Easter, and Whitsunday, and 
have administered it to many on their sick and dying beds 
who never received it before. 

" I take care to catechise the children in the church 
and to make amends for an omission of that duty at any 
time. I allow a schoolmaster twenty shillings per annum 
to encourage him to instruct the children in the Church 
Catechism. 

" And if I have failed in any part of my duty (as it 
seems you are informed), let me know it in your next, that 
I may amend, 

" Your most humble and obliged servant, 

"JOHN BARTOW." 

Mr. Bartow, writing to the secretary of the Venerable 
Propagation Society on the 12th of September, 1717, says, 
" Yonkers has no church, but we assemble for divine wor- 
ship, sometimes in an house of Joseph Bebits, deceased, 
and sometimes in a barn when empty, but the people 
begin to be in a disposition to build a church." 

In 1 71 3 the Propagation Society founded a charity 
school for the education of children in this town. The 
same year £5 per annum is granted to a schoolmaster in 
Yonkers, where there is a large congregation of Dutch and 
English, for instructing the younger sort in the catechism 
and liturgy, provided he can produce a certificate of his 
teaching thirty children. A. D. 1719 Mr. Jones was allowed 
fifty shillings for teaching children to read at Mile Square. 

From the secretary's report of the Venerable Propaga- 
tion Society the following extract is taken : 

" Rev. Mr. Bartow, who is a very good man, does do 
great service to the church. He has baptized twenty-two 
persons, one an ancient woman, and sometimes preaches at 
a place called Lower Younckers." 

In the year 1724 Mr. Bartow informs the Bishop of 
London that he " officiates on Sundays in the four towns 
under his care, and he preaches three times a year at 
Younckers." 



ST. JOHN S CHURCH. 25 

Rev. John Bartow died at Westchester in 1725. His 
remains, according to the custom of that day, were interred 
under the communion-table in the old Parish of St. Peter. 
Since the removal of that ancient edifice, however, nothing- 
serves distinctly to mark the site of his tomb, but one thing 
is certain, " that He who was with him in his last hour and 
made his bed in his sickness, will watch over the precious 
dust till He shall bid it rise." 

" So pious, just, and even, as if he meant 
His name should be his marble monument." 

" Mr. Bartow," says Dr. Hawkins, " continued in the 
discharge of his important duties for the long period of a 
quarter of a century. He was the instrument of bringing 
many separatists back to the church, and admitting into it 
many hitherto careless adults. He likewise gave much of 
his time to the instruction of the poor negroes. By such 
long and faithful services he secured the general esteem of 
his people." 

Rev. Mr. Bartow was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas 
Standard, A. M., M. D., in 1725. 

" Rev. John Bartow and Rev. Thomas Standard were 
the rectors of St. Peter's, the Westchester, or parent 
church, and Yonkers was then simply missionary ground. 
The former became rector of St. Peter's in 1702, and died 
in 1725, and the latter was inducted in 1725, and died in 
1759 or 1760. 

" It was during Rev. Mr. Standard's rectorship of St. 
Peter's and missionary work here that the first Yonkers 
church building was erected." (1752.) 

To the parish of St. Peter's Yonkers was missionary 
ground till the year 1787. 

St. John's Church was first incorporated on September 
15, 1787, under the Act of 1784. Augustus Van Cortlandt, 
Israel Honeywell, Jr., and J. Warner were appointed trus- 
tees. In accordance with the Act passed for the relief of 
the Episcopal Church, March 17, 1795, it was again organ- 
ized on September 7 of the same year: Augustus Van 
Cortlandt and William Constable, church wardens; John 
Warner, Thomas Valentine, Isaac Vermilyea, Frederick 



26 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Underhill, Shadrach Taylor, Isaac Lawrence, Stephen Oak- 
ley, and Jacob Post, vestrymen. St. John's Church was 
first represented in the Diocese of*New York in 1787. 




ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, CONSECRATED 1792. 



First church was built by the Hon. Frederick Philipse. 
Commenced in November, 1752; finished December, 1753. 
Amount expended, £625, 6s. oxl. 

Hon. Frederick Philipse was buried in the family 
vault in the Dutch Church at Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, 
N. Y., July 28, 1 75 1. 

The tower, the roof and woodwork of the original 
structure were destroyed by an accidental fire May, 1791. 
In 1792 it was restored in the precise original outward 
form, and on the 21st of August of that year consecrated 
to the service of Almighty God under the name and title 
of St. John's Church, Philipsburgh, by the Rt. Rev. 
Samuel Provoost, first bishop of New York. 

In the vestry-room of the present St. John's Church 
is a -frame containing the certificate of the consecration of 
St. John's Church in the handwriting of Bishop Provoost, 
as follows : 

" Be it known unto all Men by these Presents that I, 
Samuel Provoost, by Divine Permission Bishop of the 
Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York, 



ST. JOHN S CHURCH. 2J 

on the first Day of August in the year of our Lord one 
thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, did consecrate to 
the Honor and Service of Almighty God the Episcopal 
Church of St. John in the Town of Yonkers, in the County 
of Westchester, and do hereby publickly and openly de- 
clare and pronounce the said Church to be separated from 
all profane and common uses. 

" Given under my Hand and Seal at the town of 
Yonkers this first Day of August, Anno 
[l. s.] Domino 1792 and of my consecration, the 
Sixth. 

"SAMUEL PROVOOST." 

For some time after building the church the precinct 
liad no settled clergyman, but was supplied four times a 
year by the rectors of the parish and by occasional visits 
of the neighboring clergy. 

In October, 1761, Rev. John Milner succeeds. Manse 
built on Sawmill River, and glebe fenced, 250 acres — now 
St. John's* and Oakland Cemeteries. 

Mr. Milner was succeeded by the Rev. Harry Munro, 
A. M., who accepted the charge of the mission at Yonkers 
Whitsunday in the spring of 1765. He resigned and in 
1768 accepted a call to St. Peter's Church, Albany. 

In 1 77 1 Rev. Luke Babcock was appointed to the 
rectorship of the parish. Of him the Venerable Society's 
abstracts for 1771 say: 

" The clergy of New York recommend the Rev. Luke 
Babcock, who was lately ordained here by the Bishop of 
London, as a proper person for Missionary." 

Mr. Babcock was accordingly appointed to the mission 
with a salary of thirty pounds, and he labored at Yonkers 
with very good success until the breaking out of the Revo- 
lutionary War, when he openly espoused the cause of the 
Government. 

* The first interment on record in St. John's Cemetery occurred in 
1783, and is that of Richard Archer. The next was the daughter of Rev. 
Luke Babcock, rector of St. John's Church. And among- other memorials 
are those of " Miss Susannah Howland, born in Boston, 1753 ; died in 
Greenburgh, 1823, aged 73 years," and also that of " Lemuel Wells, Esq., 
born in the city of Hartford ; mar. Eliza H.; died Feb. nth, 1842, aged 82." 



28 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

In 1775 he was one of the protestors at White Plains 
against the Whigs. The protest was signed by three hun- 
dred and twelve persons. The names of Frederick Phil- 
ipse, Isaac Wilkins, and Samuel Seabury precede that of 
Mr. Babcock. Amidst the succeeding disorder and con- 
fusion he addressed the following letter to the Venerable 
Society : 

" Philipsburgh, 22 March, 1776. 
" Rev. Sir : Soon after the receipt of your letter the 
troubles of this Country were multiplied. There was the 
fever excited in men's minds by the late battle of Lexing- 
ton, then the affairs of Bunker Hill next came, and the 
Continental Fast, which may be considered as a trial by 
ordeal of the ministers of the Church of England in 
America. 

-A- TT -/f ■& TV "if 

" My refusal to bow down before an altar the Congress 
has raised made it necessary to confine myself to my own 
parish till the packets were discontinued, and I have been 
threatened with mutilation and death if I go into New 
England. 

"The people of this province in general are forced 
into the present unhappy contest; but as things are cir- 
cumstanced, I could hardly expect it should be better than 
it is at present. 

" I am, Rev. Sir, 

"LUKE BABCOCK." 

Mr. Inglis, in his historical notices of the missions of 
the Church of England, says : 

"Mr. Seabury and Mr. Beardsly have been obliged to 
fly from their missions. These calamities have been the 
principal cause of the death of one very worthy missionary, 
Mr. Babcock of Philipsburgh. 

" This clergyman was not only exemplary in his life 
and assiduous in his pastoral duty, but distinguished by 
his steady loyalty and warm attachment to our constitu- 
tion in Church and State. 

" This naturally marked him out as an object of the 
highest resentment to the rebels. He was seized and car- 



ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 29 

ried off a prisoner to Hartford, Conn. Here he was de- 
tained in custody from October, 1776, to February, 1777. 

" About the first of February he was taken sick, and 
as his confinement had produced no change in his senti- 
ments, he was dismissed with a written order to remove 
within ten days within the lines of the King's army. He 
got home with difficulty, in a raging fever, and delirious. 
In this state he continued about a week (the greatest part 
of the time delirious), and then died, extremely regretted. 
Indeed I know not a more excellent man, and I fear his 
loss, particularly in that mission, will scarcely be made 
up." 

Rev. Mr. Babcock died in the old parsonage, on Tues- 
day, the 10th of February, 1777, and a monumental tablet 
was placed in the church to his memory by the congrega- 
tion. 

The Rev. George Panton, A. M., was the next minister 
and continued in the service of the church until 1782. 

" As the attention of the people was called off from the 
church by the din of surrounding war and as the support 
annually received from England by the Episcopal clergy 
was cut off by the separation of this country from England, 
the parish was neglected for some time after the withdrawal 
of the Rev. George Panton in 1782. 

" No clergyman was called and settled for seven years. 
Ministers of different denominations were permitted to take 
the pulpit during this melancholy scene of disorder and 
distress. The church suffered from various causes, the 
people became careless in their morals, from the influence 
of the example of the armies around them and from the 
want of an opportunity to acquire even a common educa- 
tion. 

" The distress of the people was greater than is com- 
monly imagined. It is said by the old inhabitants that 
frequently the wealthiest farmers were deprived by the 
plunderers of the army of what was absolutely necessary 
for supplying the daily wants of their families. 

" It was at this period that the minister of the Dutch 
church at Tarrytown attempted to gain possession of the 
church and annex it to his own, but he was unsuccessful. 



30 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

" Mr. Van Cortlandt, a descendant of Frederick Phil- 
ipse, first lord of the manor at Philipsburgh, procured an 
extract from Mr. Philipse's will from which it appeared 
that the property was given for the building of an Episco- 
pal church, and other documents being produced proved 
that the church had been built in compliance with the will, 
and that no other service had ever been regularly per- 
formed in it. This fortunately determined the point in 
debate. 

"In 1784 Mr. Fowler (afterwards the Rev. Andrew 
Fowler) collected the congregation and was the first one 
who read prayers and sermons in the church after the 
Revolutionary War. 

"During 'this period the rectory continued to be occu- 
pied by the widow of Rev. Luke Babcock and his children, 
who were very active in persuading the people to attend 
the service in the church. 

" In the fields adjoining the old rectory, formerly called 
1 Babcock house,' were frequently garrisoned the troops of 
both armies. The British cavalry were stationed there for 
some time during the winter of 1780. A gang of six or 
eight cowboys broke open the rectory and robbed the de- 
fenceless ladies of everything valuable. 

" The confiscation of the manor of Philipsburgh, inclu- 
ding church property, occurred in 1785. After the confisca- 
tion of Manor Hall the State of New York very generously 
ordered that all the land then in the possession of the widow 
of Luke Babcock should be reserved for the purpose for 
which it was designed, and that the church, with two acres 
of land adjoining it, should be conveyed to the trustees of 
said church. 

"This act was first passed the first of May, 1786, but 
not being carried into speedy execution by the commission- 
ers, another act was passed the third of April, 1792, as 
follows : 

" ' That all the estate, right, title, interest, claim, and 
demand of the people of the State of New York in and to 
the said parsonage or glebe shall be and hereby are granted 
to and vested in the Corporation of the Episcopal Church in 
the Town of Yonkers, County of Westchester, and State of 



ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 



31 



New York, and their successors for ever, for the use of said 
corporation.' " 




ST. JOHN'S RECTORY AND GLEBE, 1809. 



During Mr. Panton's ministry the country was very 
much disturbed by the ravages of the American Revolution, 
and the parish, being alternately occupied by the British 
and American forces, felt the sad effects of the war. The 
church was used at intervals by both armies as a hospital 
during the Revolution. 

" The site of the original glebe is now centrally repre- 
sented by the combined areas of St. John's and Oakland 
Cemeteries. The site of this rectory and its outbuildings 
was near the Sawmill River road. The rectory stood within 
the spot now occupied by the pretty grove of trees near the 
road and directly opposite the large carpet factory of Alex- 
ander Smith's Sons. From the setting apart of the glebe 
till 1845 the church rectors lived upon it. At that time 



32 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

it was sold, of course for an amount that would now be 
deemed trifling, and with the proceeds of the sale the pres- 
ent rectory, within the church grounds, was built. The 
only land now owned by St. John's Church is St. John's 
Cemetery and the plot on which their church, rectory, and 
Sunday-school building stand. " 

SCHARF'S HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY, 1886. 

The parish remained destitute of preaching until the 
year 1789, when the Rev. Elias Cooper, A. M., succeeded 
Mr. Panton. Mr. Cooper was rector of the church for twen- 
ty-seven years. Rev. Mr. Cooper organized and taught 
a school during his pastorate. The schoolhouse is shown 
in the picture of the rectory and glebe as they were in 1809. 
It stands immediately south of the rectory. 

Rev. Mr. Cooper died January 16, 18 16, and his remains 
were interred in the burying-ground belonging to this 
parish, now St. John's Cemetery. A memorial tablet was 
also placed in the church. 

Mr. Cooper was succeeded by the Rev. William Powell, 
A. M., who took pastoral charge in May, 18 16. He resigned 
the 10th of August, 18 19, having officiated here only a few 
months over three years. 

Rev. John Grigg, A. M., succeeded Mr. Powell in 1820, 
and resigned August, 1823. 

On the 17th of October of the same year the vestry 
gave a call to the ReV. John West, A. M., and it was during 
his rectorship that the Sunday-school was founded. 

Thus it is shown by the foregoing historical church 
records that to the Church of England was given the privi- 
lege and honor of putting forth the first religious effort, of 
building a Church, and of starting the first Sunday-school in 
Yonkers. 

The Rev. John West resigned his rectorship in the 
year 1828, and was succeeded by the Rev. Alexander Ham- 
ilton Crosby, A. M., who served ten years, dying in the 
rectorship January 4, 1839. He is still represented in the 
congregation by his own descendants. He was a devoted 
pastor and greatly beloved by his congregation. 

The following brief extract taken from a sermon 
preached in St. John's Church, Yonkers, on Sunday, March 



ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 



33 



10, 1839, by the Rev. Robert William Harris, D. D., of 
White Plains, is of interest in connection with his work in 
this church: "Addressing his congregation in 1837, he said, 
' When coming to this parish I found only about thirty-five 
communicants, the attendance on divine service very irreg- 
ular, only about twenty dollars annually given to missions, 
and but little to other benevolent institutions.' During his 
incumbency the sum of one thousand dollars was raised by 
public subscription for repairing the church and also six 
hundred dollars expended on the old parsonage, besides 
other large sums for missions, and the communicants had 
increased to seventy-two." 

In 1 84 1 the interior of the church was slightly modified 
and some alterations were made in the steeple under the 
supervision of Mr. Ebenezer Baldwin (the grandfather of 
Mrs. William F. Cochran), then of Norwich, Conn. 




ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, 1849. 



Upon the death of the Rev. Mr. Crosby the Rev. Wil- 
liam M. Carmichael, A. M., was called to the rectorship, but 
declined. 



Church and Sunday-school Work. 



34 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The Rev. Smith Pyne was rector from 1 839 to 1 840. He 
was succeeded by the Rev. Henry L. Storrs, A. M., in 1841, 
who served eleven years, dying in the rectorship May 16, 
1852. During his rectorship the first rectory within the 
present church grounds was built, and the enlargement of 
the church by the addition of transepts took place, and the 
old parsonage and glebe sold for $6,500, excepting land 
used as St. John's Cemetery. 

The Rev. Abraham Beach Carter, D. D., became rector 
June 12, 1852, and served about sixteen years and a half, 
resigning December, 1868. Rev. Mr. Carter died in the 
rectorship of Trinity Episcopal Church, Rochester, N. Y., 
March 26, 1890. 

The Rev. Thomas A. Jaggar, D. D., became rector in 

1869, and resigned in 1870. He is now the Bishop of the 
Southern Diocese of Ohio. 

The Rev. William S. Langford, D. D., became rector in 

1870, and resigned July, 1875. He is now the General Sec- 
retary of Domestic and Foreign Missions of the Protestant 
Episcopal Church in America. 

The Rev. Addison B. Atkins, D. D., became rector 
May 1, 1875, and resigned May, 1879. 

The Rev. James Haughton became rector October, 
1879, an d resigned in 1887. 

In 1870 the subject of improved church accommoda- 
tions was agitated by the people of St. John's Parish, and 
the question presented was whether the old building 
should be enlarged and improved, or pulled down and a 
new church erected. After careful deliberation it was 
decided to enlarge and improve the old building, retaining 
as many of the venerable features of the original edifice as 
should be found practicable. With this view the work was 
committed to Mr. Edward Tuckerman Potter, the well- 
known architect. The new church was completed in 1872. 

The following description of the new and enlarged 
edifice is taken from " The Episcopal Register" of 1874, to 
which is added the improvements which have been made 
in and around the church more recently : 

" The design of the present and elegant church ap- 
proaches the Renaissance, the style of architecture preva- 



ST. JOHN S CHURCH. 35 

lent in England during the reign of George the Second. 
But the herring-bone course of brick-work, the peculiar 
arrangement of the coping, the raking buttresses of the 
facade, not built with weatherings in the Gothic manner, 
but carried up on the batter, giving an appearance of mas- 
siveness and strength, the elaborate brick-work of the door- 
ways, the panelling of the doors, and the great rings used 
as handles, all carry us back to the days of our grandfa- 
thers and clearly indicate the Dutch influence which pre- 
vailed at the time the original structure was put up. 

" The entire south wall of the old building is retained 
which was erected in 1752, with its venerable south door 
and windows ; also the south transept and part of the east 
wall with two of the windows of the old chancel, the old 
weather-vane and bell. 

" Viewing the structure from the east, the little belfry 
over the south transept, the fine proportions of the apse, 
and the little vestry attached produce an effect at once 
artistic and picturesque. This effect is increased by the 
iron cresting with the urn-like forms so much used by the 
old architects. 

" The exterior of the clere-story, the windows and other 
parts, are illuminated in gold and color. 

" The main entrance is from the west by an ample ves- 
tibule, divided from the church by a screen of carved chest- 
nut and plate-glass. Over the vestibule is the organ gal- 
lery, with the front elaborately carved. 

" Appropriate panels bear the monogram 'I. H. S/ 
and the text, ' His name only is excellent,' and the whole is 
enriched with carved olive-leaves and other foliage, with 
representations of musical instruments used in the service 
of the sanctuary from the earliest times. Drawings of these 
were obtained from old manuscripts and from the Raphael- 
esque in the Loggio of the Vatican. The organ recently 
purchased, which is of elegant and chaste design, has been 
removed at the left of the chancel, the old organ-gallery 
being retained. 

" The interior of the church is divided into nave and 
aisles — the centre one being eight feet and four inches in 
width — by six finely proportioned bronze columns. From 



36 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

these spring a series of large semi-circular arches, affording 
support to the clere-story. The spandrels are enriched 
with an arcade, carrying a broad band carved with the text, 
' He brought me into His banqueting-house/ on the north 
side, and on the south side, ' And His Banner over me was 
love.' Above are little galleries something after the style 
of those in St. Etienne du Mont, at Paris. A beautiful 
effect is produced by the stained glass of the clere-story as 
seen above the galleries. The illuminations are mainly 
gold and color." 

" The church was redecorated in 1889 and the ceiling — 
formerly mazarine blue — is now a French gray, and the 
walls, which were a violet tint, are now in terra cotta with 
a broad band with traceries in light blue. The cost of the 
redecoration was the gift of Wm. F. Cochran. The chan- 
cel arch is lofty. The tympanum above the arch is en- 
riched with five illustrations displaying a cross terminated 
v^ith. patera bearing the symbols of the four Evangelists." 

On the south wall of the chancel is a handsome brass 
tablet with the following inscription : 

The Chancel Windows of this Church 

Were erected by her children 

In memory of Jane Baldwin Smith 

Who fell asleep in Jesus July Xth A. D. 

MDCCCLXXV 

Numbered— With— Thy— Saints— In 

Glory — Everlasting. 

These windows are very elegant in design, represent- 
ing Mary the mother of our Lord, Christ the King, and St. 
John, the beloved disciple, 

" On either side of the apse of the chancel there are 
side aisles in a semi-apsidal form, in the manner of a chevet. 

"The reading desk is of black walnut, richly carved 
and panelled with polished veined Griotte marble." 

The memorial pulpit was presented by Mrs. William 
F. Cochran, the base of which is of antique oak, quartered, 
this method of cutting the tree bringing out to the greatest 
extent all the beauties of the natural grain of the wood, 
and highly polished. The desk, which may be lowered or 



ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 37 

raised at pleasure, is also of oak, and oak steps lead into 
the pulpit from the rear. The rest is of brass. A brass 
rail, supported by brass columns, incloses the base, and an 
artistic brass panel in front, on either side of which is a 
panel design of Easter lilies, bears the following inscription : 

I. H. S. 

As Though God Did Beseech You Through Us. 

Easter, A. D. 1888. A memorial of 

Elizabeth Paddock. 

" Christ's faithful soldier and servant unto her life's end." 

" The chancel rail and furniture are of black walnut. 

"The altar table, presented by Edmund S. T. Arnold, 
M. D., bears symbols of the twelve apostles and eight dif- 
ferent symbols of the divine name. 

" On the elegant Bishop's chair is carved a mitre, cro- 
zier, and olive foliage with the words ' Grace,' ' Mercy,' 
' Peace.' 

" The chancel floor is of Italian marble, as are the altar 
steps. 

" The appearance of the church from the chancel look- 
ing west is very beautiful. Just above the organ gallery 
is a semi-circular rose window, divided into six sections. 

" The centre bears a Greek character which represents 
the word Christ. The other sections are embellished with 
an open door, rose, lily, and a crown ; on the outside is a 
row of stars formed of double triangles, symbols of the 
Trinity. 

" Above are five lance windows on which are repre- 
sented I. H. S., the bread and wine of the sacrament, and 
the Greek letters Alpha and Omega." 

The size of the ground floor is 63 by 1 20. The chancel 
is 50 feet wide. The height from floor to peak is 75 feet. 

The church is lighted by nine chandeliers of nine 
burners each, with incandescent electric lamps, with two 
coronas in the chancel to correspond. They are beautiful 
and unique. 

The seating capacity of the church is about one thou- 
sand. 

" The mural tablets of the old church erected to the 



38 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

memory of the Rev. Luke Babcock, the Rev. Elias Cooper, 
A. M., the Rev. Alexander H. Crosby, A. M., and the Rev. 
Henry L. Storrs, A. M., are also retained. 

" No description can convey, however, an idea of the 
effect which the architect has succeeded in producing, 
the fine effect in the arrangement of distance and the 
management of space. 

" The eye striking the galleries of the clere-story glances 
upwards to the loftier height of the peak, and one feels a 
sudden shrinkage as to personal dimensions. The feeling 
however is soon lost sight of in the warmth of coloring, 
which cannot fail to create a glow of heart. It really seems 
as though there is an atmosphere of color, so rich are the 
hues, yet so admirably are they blended. With all their 
brilliance there is naught of glare, and the harmony is per- 
fect." 

" The good people of St. John's parish of Yonkers have 
a rare temple of worship." 

In the south side of the present church is a beautiful 
memorial window, representing the offerings of the wise 
men to the infant child Jesus. This window was erected 
in memory of William Jones and his wife, Hannah Jones, 
by their children. The inscription is as follows : 

In Memoriam, William Jones, Senior 
Warden of St. John's Church, Fell Asleep 
Feb'y 17TH, 1843. Also his Wife Hannah 
Watson Jones. Entered into rest Sept'r 22D, 1839. 
Easter,] Born in London, died at Yonkers. [1873. 
This was the first memorial window erected in the 
church. Two other windows are in memory the one of 
Mrs. John G. Christopher and the other of Edward Under- 
hill and his wife, which are to the right of the main en- 
trance to the church. 

A very interesting and deeply impressive service was 
held in St. John's Church on Friday evening, May 4, 1888, 
when the unveiling and dedication of an elegant Baptismal 
Font, erected in memory of Miss Minnie Putnam Cobb, only 
daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Lyman Cobb, Jr., who entered 
into the "Palace o' the King" May 26, 1886, took place. 



ST. JOHN S CHURCH. 



39 



There were present of the clergy the Rev. Wm. S. 
Langford, D. D., the Rev. Wm. H. Mills, D. D., the Rev. 
Wm. S. Coffey, of Eastchester, the Rev. Alexander Mann, 
of Orange, N. J., the Rev. Alexander B. Carver, rector, 





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the Rev. August Ulmann, the Rev. Alexander Forbes, and 
the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., and a very large congregation. 

The Rev. Dr. Langford preached the sermon, taking for 
his text a portion of the fourth verse of the tenth chapter 
of the Acts : " A memorial before God," and in closing he 
said : " It is beautiful to make memorials, and it is much 



40 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

more fitting to place such in the house of God, where they 
can be specially useful. This font, this pulpit, and these 
windows are all valuable memorials because of that. This 
beautiful font will be lovingly associated for many genera- 
tions, though the people who kneel here may have scarcely 
a thought of her whose gentle life procured it ; but they 
will, nevertheless, be beholden to her memory. . . . Min, 
nie Putnam Cobb, when I took charge of St. John's Church, 
eighteen years ago, was one of the children of the congre- 
gation. How memories cluster around me, how faces come 
back, as I recall those times! Some have passed within 
the veil, yet they seem to look down with sacred interest 
as we gather to dedicate this font. She had a peculiar 
loveliness and gentleness of manner. She knew no other 
church, and here she prayed and gave alms and labored 
for the salvation of souls. She was a gift of God, and has 
been given back to God. It is meet, then, that this font 
should be first a glory to God, and that it should ever be 
used for His glory and the benefit of those who from gene- 
ration to generation shall kneel there to receive holy bless- 
ings." 

The first two stanzas of " Jerusalem the Golden " were 
then sung to a new tune composed by George F. Le Jeune, 
formerly of Yonkers, and then the clergy assembled around 
the font, the rector within the railing, offering the prayers 
of dedication. After this the remaining portion of the 
hymn was sung, while the clergy returned to the chancel 
and the rector pronounced the benediction. 

The font rests to the right of the Paddock Memorial 
Pulpit, is of exquisitely carved Carrara marble, and is sup- 
ported by two figures of angels, life size. The whole font 
is four feet and four inches in height and rests on a stone 
base which is of dark color, six inches high, the whole work 
resting on a platform of wood eight by nine feet, seven 
inches from the floor. Around the font is an ornamental 
brass railing "with this inscription : " Erected to the glory of 
God and in loving memory of Minnie Putnam Cobb, 1887." 
The inscriptions on the font are as follows : On the north 
side, " In memory of ;" on the west side, " Minnie Putnam 
Cobb;" on the south side, "May 11, 1857; May 26, 1886;" 



ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 41 

on the east side, " The gift of Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Cobb, Jr." 
The rail on the west side of the platform insets a foot, leav- 
ing one foot of the platform outside the rail for a kneeling- 
place for the candidates for baptism, and which is covered 
with a scarlet-colored cushion. There is a ewer of brass, 
twenty inches high, for holding the water, which the rector 
pours into the font when needed. On the ewer is this 
inscription: " In memory of Minnie Putnam Cobb. 'He 
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.'— St. Mark 
16:16." 

The design for the font was made by "Mrs. Lyman 
Cobb, Jr.; the model was made by Alexander Doyle, of 
New York, sculptor; and the sculpture is the work of 
Signor Carlo Nicoli, of Florence, Italy. The brass work 
and other surroundings were furnished by J. & R. Lamb, of 
New York, excepting the quartered oak platform, which 
was the work of John A. East, of Yonkers. 

A handsome and costly memorial window has been 
placed in the north side of the church in memory of the 
Rev. Abraham Beach Carter, D. D., the beloved rector of 
this church for sixteen years and a half. 

In i860 the first chapel was built. The corner-stone of 
the chapel second was laid on St. John the Evangelist's 
Day, December 27, 1889, by the Rt. Rev. Henry C. Potter, 
D. D., LL. D., who was assisted in the services by the Rev. 
Wm. H. Mills, D. D., the Rev. August Ulmann, the Rev. 
Alexander Forbes, the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., and the rec- 
tor of the church, the Rev. Alexander B. Carver. 

The corner-stone bears the simple inscription, " A. D. 
1890." The contents of the box are : Parish Year Book of 
1889, the names of officers of the Corporation, the names of 
present members of the parish, a roll of the teachers of the 
Sunday-school and the number of scholars, coins of that 
year, Yonkers and New York daily newspapers, the last 
copy of the " Churchman," and an olive branch from the 
oldest tree in the Garden of Gethsemane, at Jerusalem. 

The trowel with which the Bishop cemented in place 
the stone which covered the box was of solid silver with 
turned ebony handle. It bore the following inscription: 
" Used by Bishop H. C. Potter, D. D., LL. D., in laying the 



42 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

corner-stone of St. John's Chapel, December 27, 1889. Pre- 
sented by the Altar Society of St. John's Church to the 
Rev. Alexander B. Carver, rector." 

The new buildings, consisting of chapel, parish house, 
and rectory, recently erected, are literally three in one. 
They are in perfect harmony with the architecture of the 
church. The material of which the buildings are con- 
structed is gray stone, with brick trimmings. The interior 
of the chapel is 41 1-2 by 80 ft., exclusive of the room at the 
west, which is 24 by 28 ft., and is used by the primary de* 
partment of the Sunday-school. The chancel of the chapel 
is at the north end, with an organ room at the west. At the 
east end are ample robing-rooms, also a well-arranged library 
room. The interior of the chapel is finished with stained 
white wood, with high ceiling, and is furnished with most 
comfortable chair seats, as are also the various class-rooms. 

Between the chapel and the church, but connected with 
the former as part of the same building, and with the latter 
by a covered way or cloister leading to the entrance of the 
church, is the parish house, which is two stories high. The 
main room on the lower floor is 20 by 32 ft. In this assem- 
bly room the ladies of the congregation hold their meet- 
ings. This room opens into the chapel by large sliding- 
doors. At the rear of the assembly-room towards the east 
is a kitchen and other rooms. In the second story is the 
rector's study, with four rooms for various branches of 
church work. 

The rectory is 42 by 56 ft. in size, although its outlines 
are irregular, with many gables, turrets, and chimneys. It 
contains eighteen rooms, and has beside a spacious cellar. 
The interior is partly painted and in part finished in hard 
wood. It is connected with the chapel and other buildings 
by a covered cloister nine feet wide. The buildings form, 
with the church proper, a court which faces on South Broad- 
way. A driveway circles about a beautiful lawn, containing 
some time-honored locust-trees. Around the entire church 
property is an exceedingly handsome low stone wall, in keep- 
ing with the architecture of the buildings which it surrounds. 
This fence is included in the gift of Mr. W. F. Cochran. 

The buildings were designed by R. H. Robertson, 



ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 43 

architect, of New York. The builders were James and 
George Stewart, of the firm of masons, and S. Francis Quick, 
the carpenter. 

Tuesday evening, the feast of the Epiphany, January 
6, 1 89 1, was an occasion memorable in the history of St. 
John's Church, inasmuch as on that evening the new chap- 
el, parish house, and rectory were then given by Mr. Wil- 
liam F. Cochran. 

In addition to this gift Mr. Cochran placed on the 
church property at the corner of South Broadway and Hud- 
son Street a public cold water drinking-fountain, to be 
known as "St. John's Cold Water Fountain." 

The mortgage debt upon the church property, amount- 
ing to $49,000, was cancelled by Mrs. Eva S. Cochran. 
These aggregated gifts amounted to over $100,000. 

Judge Stephen H. Thayer, treasurer of the vestry, 
responded on their behalf in a brief and felicitous manner, 
accepting the noble gift on behalf of the vestry. The Rev. 
Alexander B. Carver made an address, speaking of the gifts 
as gifts to the parish, to the town, to the church at large, 
and to God himself, and then offered a preamble and reso- 
lutions expressive of the appreciation by the rector, ward- 
ens, vestrymen, and pewholders of St. John's Church of the 
high Christian sentiments which dwell in the hearts of the 
donors, and praying that they may be refreshed through- 
out many prosperous years by a perception of the many 
blessings which shall result from the sowing of this good 
seed. The resolutions were adopted unanimously by a 
standing vote. The munificent gifts of Mr. and Mrs. 
Cochran have placed St. John's parish upon a strong basis, 
and the facilities for the prosecution of all parish work are 
thus largely increased. 

The church was consecrated by the Bishop of the Dio- 
cese, the Rt. Rev. Henry C. Potter, on Wednesday, April 
1 , 1 89 1 , in the presence of thirty-seven of the clergy and a 
large congregation. 

The Bishop, accompanied by the clergy, was received 
at the entrance of the church by wardens Walter H. Pad- 
dock and Philip Verplanck, and vestrymen William F. 
Cochran, John H. Hu obeli, William F. Lawrence, William 



44 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

W. Scrugham, William M. Morgan, Stephen H. Thayer, 
Frederick Von S torch, and Robert P. Getty, Jr. The ves- 
try formed on either side of the centre aisle of the door ; 
the clergy passed along and formed similarly; and then 
the Bishop walked between the columns, leading the way 
to the chancel. As they proceeded up the aisle the Bishop 
and clergy repeated alternately Psalm 24, beginning, " The 
earth is the Lord's, and all that therein is." 

The Bishop then went within the chancel rails with 
such of the clergy as could be accommodated. As he sat 
in his chair the instrument of donation was read by vestry- 
man Cochran, and was then presented to him by the rector. 

The instrument of consecration, which was signed by 
Bishop Potter, was read by the Rev. Dr. Langford. The 
consecration service being ended, Morning Prayer followed, 
the officiating clergymen being Bishop Talbot, Archdeacon 
Thomas, and the Rev, Drs. Huntington and Langford. 
The musical programme was as follows, and was well ren- 
dered: Venite Exultemus, Dr. W. Turner; the Psalter — 
Proper Psalms, 84, 120, 132 ; Te Deum Laudamus, Mendels- 
sohn ; Benedictus, Dudley Buck ; Introit — Hymn 278 (St. 
Ann's), Dr. Craft ; Kyrie Eleison ; Gloria Tibi, W. T. Best ; 
the Hundredth Psalm, Mozart; Offertory, "This is the 
Day," Gadsby ; Recessional Hymn, 282, Henry Smart. 

The sermon was preached by the Rev. David H. 
Greer, D. D., rector of St. Bartholomew's Church, New 
York, from the text, " And the Lord added to the church 
daily such as should be saved." Acts 2:47. It was an 
able and appropriate discourse. 

After the services, which ended shortly after 1 o'clock, 
the clergy ,vestry, and others partook of an elaborate luncheon 
provided by the ladies of the church in the parish building. 

The present rector of this church, the Rev. Alexander 
B. Carver, studied at the University of Pennsylvania and 
at the Episcopal Divinity School at Cambridge in 1878. 
His mother is a descendant of the House of Hapsburg and 
his father a descendant from Capt. Carver of the " May- 
flower." During his diaconate he was assistant minister of 
Christ Church, Brooklyn. 

After a year's service as assistant he was ordained to 



ST. JOHN S CHURCH. 45 

the priesthood, and then assumed charge of a mission 
church, St. Gabriel's, in Providence, R. I. This mission, 
at first heavily in debt, was cleared of its indebtedness and 
became an independent parish. 

After a service of five years he was called to the rec^ 
torship of St. Peter's Church, Narragansett Pier, and held 
the position for two summers, when he accepted an invita- 
tion to become assistant minister of St. Thomas' Church, 
New York city. 

In 1887 he was unanimously elected to the rectorship 
of St. John's Church, Yonkers, N. Y. 

The Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., always faithful and ready, 
assists the rector on Sundays. 

The Rev. Alexander B. Carver is a clergyman of 
marked ability. His sermons bear evidence of deep 
thought and a mind well stored with philosophic and reli- 
gious truth. They are replete with poetic figure, apt illus- 
trations, and sound gospel teaching, being delivered with 
much feeling and earnestness of expression. His sermons 
without manuscript are of late his best efforts, and predict 
for him in the near future a decided reputation for that 
method of preaching. Besides this he is thoroughly faith- 
ful in parish work. Having the stamp of the Christian gen- 
tleman, his visits are well received. The increase of the 
members of the parish and the attendance at the church 
services prove very forcibly that he is appreciated and is 
doing a good work. His popularity in a parish distin- 
guished for the diversity of the churchmanship of its 
members is remarkable. Extremely liberal in his views 
and imbued with love for the Master, he rejoices in and 
encourages with his sympathy and help every good work. 

The present officers of St. John's Church, 1891, and 
who were elected on Easter Monday, 1891, are — 

WARDENS. 

Walter H. Paddock, Philip Verplanck. 

VESTRYMEN. 

William F. Cochran, William M. Morgan, 

John H. Hubbell, Stephen H. Thayer, 

William F. Lawrence, Fred. Von Storch, 

William W. Scrugham, Robert P. Getty, Jr. 



46 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

CLERK OF VESTRY. TREASURER. 

Robert P. Getty, Jr. S. H. Thayer, Jr. 

The ushers of St. John's Church are as follows : 

Fred. Von Storch, Earnest Belknap, 

George Herbert Rose, Kearney Pentz, 

Wilson Morris, Albert S. Skinner. 

PAROCHIAL STATISTICS, SEPTEMBER i, 1889-1890. 

Number of souls, about 1,000 1,000 

Baptisms: Infants, 44 ; adults, 10. Total. . 54 66 

Confirmed ........ 31 37 

Marriages .18 19 

Burials . 27 19 

Communicants : Number last reported . . 600 600 
Expenditures. Total for all objects, 1890, $1 5,666 33. 

The membership of St. John's Church is effectively 
organized for various forms of parish and other work. 
Prominent among the latter is St. John's Riverside Hospi- 
tal, which was founded November, 1869, and chartered in 
1870, and is now one of the prominent public institutions 
of Yonkers, and has enlisted the sympathy and care of 
this congregation ever since its establishment. 

Several of the members of St. John's Church have 
served for successive years as members of its Board of 
Managers. The Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., has served as its 
Chaplain and Treasurer for twenty years and filled those 
offices with great acceptance. 

St. John's Church also supported a lady missionary, 
Miss Seymour, who went to South Africa in 1857. The 
Church has also the following societies connected with it : 

The Women's Auxiliary. President, Mrs. William F. 
Cochran ; Secretary, Mrs. Dr. Houston ; Treasurer, Miss Hal- 
stead. The Auxiliary raised for Home and Foreign Mis- 
sions in 1890 over $1,000. 

A Junior Auxiliary Missionary Society was organized 
January, 1890. The amount raised for home and foreign 
missions for the year ending December, 1 890, was $400. 

Altar Society. President, Mrs. Alexander B. Carver, 
Mrs. D. A. Booth, Miss Nellie Scrugham, Miss Waring. 

Dorcas Society. 

Mothers' Meeting. 



ST. JOHN S CHURCH. 47 

The Industrial School. 

Girls' Friendly Society. 

In September, 1888, Mrs. L. C. Wray began her labors 
as parish visitor, and served till June, 1889. She was suc- 
ceeded by Mrs. E. L. Chapman, who is the present parish 
visitor. The rector, the Rev. Alexander B. Carver, bears 
testimony to the efficiency and great usefulness of her 
labors in connection with the parish work. 

Organist and Choirmaster, James Pearce, Mus. Bac. 
Oxon. 

The leading singers are Miss Louise Cowles, soprano, 
Miss Sara Humbert, alto, Harry Rawcliffe, tenor, and R. G. 
Jackson, bass; the best quartette the church has had, at 
least for many years. 

Three of the sextons of St. John's Church have been 
Charles Philips Angevine, son of John Angevine, a colored 
servant of the Philipses, who served forty-five years, Lewis 
Ritter, colored, who acted in that capacity for thirty years, 
and Richard J. Whitehead, who served for twenty-eight 
years ; he was succeeded by Benson M. De Witt. The 
present sexton is Sylvester L. Havey. 

On the present pulpit Bible is inscribed, " St. John's 
Church, Yonkers, 1872. Gift of Mrs. J. Lewis Leib." 

" The old communion service of this church was car- 
ried off, during the war of the Revolution, for safe keeping 
to the city of New York. Some years after the close of 
the war the altar cloth was discovered in an old dusty box 
where it had lain through the whole period of the Revolu- 
tion, and is now preserved at St. John's Chapel, Tuckahoe. 

" The silver formerly used at the administration of the 
holy sacrament consisted of one large silver flagon, two 
silver chalices, a silver basin or font (the latter was pre- 
sented by a member of the Van Cortlandt family in 1830, 
on the occasion of the baptism of Miss Harriet Van Cort- 
landt Crosby, daughter of Rev. Alexander H. Crosby), and 
two silver plates, one of which bears the following inscrip- 
tion : * Presented to the Episcopal Church, Town of Yon- 
kers, 1795.' 

" The altar-cloth was given by Miss Arabella Ludlow.'* 

BOLTON'S HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY. 



48 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The present communion-service is of solid silver, and 
consists of two flagons, two chalices, two patens, and a 
communion-spoon and spoon-rest. On the flagons are the 
following inscriptions : "St. John's Church, Yonkers. The 
gift of William C. Waring, July i, 1845." "Presented to 
St. John's Church by Lyman Cobb, Jr., in memory of 
Hannah Chambers Cobb, his beloved mother, Yonkers, 
November, 1884." 

The communion-spoon and spoon-rest each bear the fol- 
lowing inscription : " Presented to St. John's Church, by 
Lyman Cobb, Jr., in memory of his sister, H. Louise Crut- 
tenden, November, 1884." 

Communion set for the sick. " Presented by Sylvanus 
Mayo to St. John's Church, Easter, 1880. In memory of 
Angelica R. Mayo." 

The large paten bears this inscription : " Presented to 
the Episcopal Church of the Town of Yonkers, 1795." 
Upon the small paten, " Presented by Augustus Fred Van 
Cortlandt to St. John's Church, Yonkers, November 1, 1836." 

The chalices bear the following inscriptions : " The gift 
of Miss S. Williams to the Episcopal Church of Philips- 
burgh." "The gift of Miss H. White to the Episcopal 
Church of Philipsburgh, 1836." 

The three silver alms-basins bear the following inscrip- 
tions: the first, "William Jones," the second, " Nathaniel 
Valentine," the third, " St. John's Church, Yonkers, N. Y., 
from W. M. Morgan, Easter, New York, A. D., 1891." 

On Easter, 1891, a brass altar desk was presented by 
the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., which bears the following in- 
scription : " In loving memory of Raffaelle Cobb, Jr., 1890." 

Also ten chancel prayer and service books, " Presented 
to St. John's Church by J. Lewis Leib, in memory of his 
wife, Josephine S. Leib." 

The bell was presented to the church by Joseph How- 
land, Esq., and contains the following inscription : " B. 
Hanks, Mansfield, Conn., 1818." 

The first Year Book of St. John's Church was issued in 
1889. The rector in his introductory note of the Parish 
Year Book of 1889 says, "We believe that we are entering 
upon a new era of increased usefulness and prosperity, and 



ST. JOHN'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 49 

that by steadfast support, patient sympathy, generous help, 
and enthusiastic loyalty we shall 'abound more and more,' 
and bring forth good fruit to the praise and glory of God 
and His church." 

Holy Communion first Sunday in the month, 11 a. m. 

Holy Baptism on the first Sunday in the month. At 
other times by special appointment. 

Confirmation as appointed by the Bishop. 

ST. JOHN'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

From the semi-centennial report of John P. Groshon, 
the present superintendent of St. John's Sunday-school, we 
find that the school was sixty-one years old Easter, 1887. 
According to this report the school was founded under the 
rectorship of the Rev. John West, A. M., who was called to 
the rectorship of St. John's Church the 17th of October, 1823. 

From Miss Alice S. Brown, a resident of Kingsbridge, 
whose recollections of the school date back to the rector- 
ship of the Rev. John West, in the year 1826, we learn that 
the school was held in Manor Hall (now the Yonkers City 
Hall) on Warburton Avenue, which was at that time the 
residence of Lemuel Wells, Sr., warden in St. John's 
Church. There, in a room designated as the " Green 
Room," Miss Brown, with her sister and her brother James 
D. Brown, met with the family of Mr. Wells, Sr., whose 
family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Wells, Sr., Lemuel Wells, 
their only son, who died at an early age and was at this 
time under the tuition of the Rev. Richard Cadle, and also 
Mrs. Wells' youngest sister (now Mrs. Harriet Baylies), 
daughter of Mr. James Blackwell, of Blackwell's Island. 
These, with two others whose names she could not recall, 
constituted the little Sunday-school. 

After a time the " Green Room " became too small to 
accommodate them, and they adjourned to the Library. 
The name of the superintendent she does not recollect, but 
the Rev. Mr. Cadle sometimes conducted the opening exer- 
cises. Her recollections of the hours spent in the school 
are very pleasant, and her remembrance of Mr. Wells and 
Iris family especially so. 

The room formerly known as the " Green Room " is 

Church and Sunday-schooi Work. A 



50 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

now the room in the present City Hall which is occupied by 
the janitor, and the room formerly known as the " Library '" 
is the southwest room in the second story, and is especially 
sacred to memory as General Washington's bed-chamber. 

In the west room of the second story of Manor Hall* 
the fireplace jambs are lined with one hundred and six 
tiles, five inches square, each one illustrating a passage of 
Scripture. The iron fire-brick is dated 1 760, and has upon 
it a casting representing Elijah being fed by ravens. 

At a later period the little school gathered again within 
its walls, and received a cordial welcome from its kind 





■"■■■ ■■" ■'".■ _-_. 



THE MANOR HALL IN 1842. 

owner, Lemuel Wells, Sr., who opened its doors on the cold 
winter mornings in "ye olden times" when the good sex- 
ton of St. John's Church failed, as he sometimes did, to kin- 
dle the fire in season, so as to make the church comfortable 
for their meeting. 

The late Mrs. P. W. Paddock, who was a pupil in the 

* Upon a tablet fastened on the wall of the present front hall of Manor 
Hall is this inscription : " Philipse Manor House. Erected in 1682, by 
Frederick Philipse, esq. Manor of Philipsburg created 1693. Confiscated 
by act of the legislature of New York, 1779. Sold by Commissioners of for- 
feiture, 1785. Occupied as a private residence until 1868. Purchased by 
the village of Yonkers in that year. Became the City Hall of Yonkers 
1872. Bi-centennial celebration of its erection 1882." 



ST. JOHN'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 5 I 

Sunday-school at that time, related the above incident to 
her children when talking of her Sunday-school days. 

The Rev. Alexander H. Crosby, who became rector of 
St. John's Church, was very closely identified with the early 
history of the school, and during his connection with it he 
was assisted by Squire Thaddeus Rockwell, who also held 
the office of Justice of the Peace of the village of Yonkers 
at that time. 

From early reminiscences of this school given by Mrs. 
Frederick A. Back,* an old resident of Yonkers, and who 
was a pupil in the school, we find that it was held in the 
old court-room located on Broadway on the site where the 
Citizen's Bank now stands. This room was about eighteen 
feet wide and forty feet long, with wooden benches for 
seats. This building is at present located on Nepperhan 
Avenue, opposite Morgan Street. 

The rector and his most estimable wife, a woman 
greatly beloved by all who knew her, were always present 
during the session, which was from nine o'clock until ten 
o'clock in the morning. They were both very sweet singers 
and always led the singing, which consisted of selections 
from the metrical version of the Psalms of David. 

The Rev. Mr. Crosby always heard the children recite 
the Church Catechism. It was the custom of Mrs. Back, 
when obliged to be absent from the school, to send to her 
teacher the answers to the questions of the lessons for the 
day written out. The Apostles' Creed was recited in con- 
cert and a psalm was sung, and the scholars with their 
teachers, two by two, walked in procession to the church 
over the way, the rector and his wife leading. 

At this time the school numbered between twenty and 
thirty scholars and eight teachers. They were Miss Har- 
riet Myers (now Mrs. Albert Keeler), Miss Sarah Forester 

* Mr. Frederick A. Back, an old resident of this city, remembers when 
quite a young boy of attending a Sunday-school which was held in the par- 
lor of Mrs. Barrett, an English lady who resided on the Pinkney farm, later 
known as the Coddington farm, a mile and a half from Getty Square, in 
New York city, and upon a portion of which Superintendent Groshon now 
resides. She was assisted by her sisters. The number of pupils Mr. Back 
does not remember. The school was held during the summer months 
only, and but for one year. He thinks it was in 1825 or 1826. 



52 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

(now Mrs. George B. Rockwell), Miss Eliza Rockwell (now 
Mrs. Joseph Moore), Miss Jane Myers, Miss Rachel Anna 
Nodine, Miss Hibbard, Mrs. Jane Baldwin, and Peter Nodine. 

The exact date cannot be ascertained when the school 
left this building and met in St. John's Church. In the 
year 1832 John Hobbs became a teacher in the school, and 
at that time it was held in the gallery of the church. Mr. 
Hobbs led the singing, and often took the place of the 
librarian when that official was absent. The school was 
divided into two divisions. The girls occupied the south 
end of the gallery and the boys the north end. The super- 
intendent's desk was placed in the middle of the room 
between the two divisions. There was one adult Bible 
class, which was taught by Sampson Simpson. 

Mrs. Charles Belknap, a resident of Yonkers, who was 
a pupil in the school at that time, says, " The scholars num- 
bered between forty and fifty, and the children always re- 
mained during the church service in the gallery. Mr. Hobbs. 
led the singing in the church also and Miss Caroline Jones 
presided at the organ. The school became too large to meet 
in the gallery and adjourned to the body of the church." 

In the year 1849 transepts were added with other im- 
provements to the church edifice, and during this time the 
school was held in what was called the " Long Room." 
This room was in a building belonging to the Wells estate, 
and was located on the southwest corner of Broadway and 
Main Street. There were three rooms in this building 
opening into each other by folding doors, and it was at that 
time the only public hall in the place. 

The Sunday-school was held in the church chapel, 
which was erected in i860, and was located within the 
inclosure of the church grounds on Hudson Street until it 
was removed to the present beautiful and commodious 
chapel on Sunday, June 29, 1890. The first church chapel 
was erected by private subscription, and was a wooden 
structure with transepts. The interior was pleasant and 
attractive. It had stained glass windows, and on the north 
side, in the chancel window, was represented in stained 
glass three choir boys, symbolizing praise. Underneath 
the picture were these words : " We praise thee, O God." 



ST. JOHN S SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 53 

On the west window was pictured Christ blessing 
little children, with the words, " For of snch is the king- 
dom of heaven." On the opposite side, over the east en- 
trance, was the representation of an open Bible with a 
crown above it. 

The infant class room on the south side and south 
entrance opened into the audience-room, between which 
were sliding doors, over which was inscribed, " Remember 
now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." In this room 
was a large oil painting representing a scene after the cru- 
cifixion : the darkened sun, the riven rocks, and the centre 
cross standing upright with the inscription upon it, " I. N. 
R. I.," while the other crosses have fallen broken into the 
chasm below, are strikingly represented. This picture is a 
copy from the original which was painted by J. T. Weir, 
and is in the chapel of u the Holy Innocents" at West 
Point. It is said to have considerable artistic merit. It 
was presented to the Sunday-school by Mrs. W. W. Scrug- 
ham. 

The annual report of the Sunday-school, for May 23, 
1872, gives the following statistics: Total number of teach- 
ers, 34 ; total number of pupils, 484 , number in primary 
department, 241 ; number of volumes in library, 900 ; total 
amount contributed for benevolence during the year, 
$266 91. The officers of the school were Samuel Emmet 
Getty, Superintendent ; Edward Jackson, Secretary ; A. O. 
Lawrence, Librarian ; and Fred. W. Von Storch and G. E. 
Back, Assistant Librarians. 

The semi-centennial anniversary of the school was 
held in the church at four o'clock in the afternoon, on 
Whitsunday, 1876, when the exercises began by singing a 
hymn, followed by the reading of a selection of Psalms ; 
then the Gloria in Excelsis, reading of the Scriptures, 
Creed, and prayer ; singing by the infant class, which was 
followed by an address by the rector, the Rev. Addison B. 
Atkins, D. D. ; closing by a hymn and benediction. 

The following is taken from a printed report of the 
school in the centennial year, April, 1876 : 

" The Sunday-school connected with St. John's Church 
on South Broadway is a model one in every respect. Good 



54 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

order and close attention to the lesson were observable on 
the occasion of our visit last Sunday morning. The attend- 
ance was large and all seemed much interested. Since 
the Rev. Dr. Atkins has taken the rectorship of this parish 
he has organized a Bible-class, which is in a flourishing con- 
dition. 

" The following statistics for the past year speak well 
of the condition of the school* Officers, 6, teachers, 34; 
scholars on register, 340, average attendance, 259; largest 
attendance, 327; number in infant class, 130; volumes in 
library, 600; receipts, $498 78; expenditures, $461 34. 

" The officers of the school are as follows . J. P. Gro- 
shon, Superintendent ; Frederick Von Storch, Secretary and 
Treasurer ; Charles Back, T. Silkman, Governeur Morris, 
and John T. Christopher, Librarians. The teachers are as 
follows : Miss A. D. Locke, Miss M. Bowers, Miss C. Law- 
son, Miss M. V. Oakley, Miss Gettie E. Cobb, Miss M. Gi- 
hon, Miss L. M. Sommers, Miss Kate Underhill, Miss L. 
Clark, Mrs. James Bloomer, Miss N. Lawson, Miss J. A. 
Christopher, Mrs. George W. Cobb, Mrs. Dr. Swift, Miss 
A. Locke, Miss I. M. Orme, Miss E. A. Metcalf, Mrs. C. E. 
Keeler, Miss H. Gihon, Miss K. E. Spencer, Mrs. D. C. Kel- 
linger, Miss M. L. Proseus, Miss Arthur, Messrs. George 
W. Cobb, R. J. Harper, H. B. Odell, James D. Mclntyre, 
S. J. Everett, S. A. Moore, Edgar Logan, Jr., Wm. Smith, 
J. B. Silkman, A. A. Renwee, and Mr. Gaul." 

The fifty-second Easter celebration of the Sunday- 
school was held in the church on April 21, 1878. At four 
o'clock the school marched from the chapel singing a pro- 
cessional hymn. The exercises comprised the singing of 
carols, Scripture reading, the recitation of the Creed and 
prayers, the address by the rector, the Rev. Dr. Atkins, 
and the presentation of the offerings. The offerings by 
the scholars were very beautiful, the Scripture mottoes 
accompanying them appropriate, and the amounts credita- 
ble, making the aggregate sum of $175, which was devoted 
to various benevolent objects. 

The report of John P. Groshon, Superintendent, was as 
follows: Number of pupils on the roll, 448 ; largest attend- 
ance, 437: smallest attendance, 114; average attendance, 



ST. JOHNS SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 55 

286; teachers and officers, 46, total, 483. Superintendent 
Groshon said the school held its sessions throughout the 
year without the omission of a single Sunday. Ninety-six 
scholars had committed the Catechism during the year. 
The children's weekly contributions for missions were 
$630 25. Agnes Clayton, Mary Kelly, Minnie Ginzlinger, 
Nellie Lanzendren, William Gaul, and Harry Clayton had 
been present in their places every Sunday during the year. 
After the exercises by the school the rector distributed 
presents to those members who by punctuality in attend- 
ance and application to lessons had earned them. 

On Easter morning Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, Bishop of 
the Diocese, confirmed a class of thirty-five, seventeen of 
whom were adults, the others being from the Sunday- 
school. This number made one hundred and fifty-six 
persons who had been presented for confirmation by the 
rector, the Rev. A. B. Atkins, D. D., within two years. 

The Christmas and Easter festivals of the school are 
occasions of great interest and enjoyment to the children, 
and their Easter offerings of flowers are choice and beauti- 
ful. On one of these occasions among the floral designs 
was a pyramid of flowers, the offering from a class of young 
ladies, while crosses and anchors and fancy baskets full of 
flowers were among the other offerings. And across the 
chancel rail were fastened wires to which were hung floral 
letters, and a member from each class, as the class was called, 
came and placed a letter on the wires. The school did not 
know what the sentence was to be until after each class had 
placed its letter. And when it was completed it read 
thus : " Christ is Risen." The letters were composed of 
pure white flowers, on a background of green. The effect 
was exquisitely beautiful. 

At one of the Christmas festivals, a Jacob's ladder, bril- 
liantly lighted, extended from the chancel floor to the roof, 
at the base of which were placed the gifts for the school, and 
it was the attractive feature of the event. 

The Christmas festival of 1 868 was held in the Sunday- 
school chapel, which was beautifully decorated with ever- 
greens and the tables were bountifully spread with cake, 
fruit, and confections. In the centre of the transept stood 



56 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

a large Christmas-tree. The exercises of the evening were 
opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Carter, a former rector 
of the church, who had made it a special duty and pleasure 
to attend on this occasion. 

Dr. Carter said : " Though no longer their rector, he 
hoped they would not look upon him as a stranger, that his 
former pleasant connection with them would not pass from 
their memory. It would not pass from his, and he hoped 
often to visit them and witness the continued prosperity of 
the school. And he left them as his last special lesson the 
duty of reverence to the holy child Jesus, whose birth they 
were celebrating." 

Interesting and appropriate addresses were made by 
Edgar Logan and Britton Richardson. The distribution of 
gifts from the Christmas-tree followed, giving great delight 
to the young recipients. A pleasing feature of the occasion 
was the presentation of a beautiful study-chair to Dr. Carter 
by Mr. Richardson on behalf of the school. 

Dr. Carter replied in feeling terms that in receiving the 
evidence of the love of his former young charge he hoped it 
would long remain in his family as a reminder of his happy 
connection with the Sunday-school of St. John's Church. 

The doxology was sung, and the benediction given by 
the Rev. Dr. Carter, and teachers, scholars, and visitors all 
seemed highly delighted with the evening's entertainment. 

St. John's Sunday-school has four circles of the " King's 
Daughters." 

The first band of King's Daughters started in Yonkers 
was formed by Mary B. Kellinger, which met first at her 
home, October n, 1886. The members were: Miss Mary 
B. Kellinger, President, Ellie Hill, Mary Guilford, Louise 
Shipman, Alice Booth, Ada Beardsley, Frances Thayer, 
and Margaret Nye. Their motto is 

"LEND A HAND." 

In 1886 this Circle contributed various gifts to St. 
John's Riverside Hospital, and in 1889 garments and cro- 
cheted articles were made for St. John's missionary boxes, 
and seventy dollars sent to Miss Margaret Scott's mission 
in Liberia, Africa. 



ST. JOHN S SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 57 

By the aid of a younger Ten, whose president is Miss 
Edith Morgan, a number of garments were made for St. 
John's Dorcas Society. 

CIRCLE "NO. 2." 

Miss Grace Wellman, President, Miss Verplanck, Anna 
Clark, Julia Sherman, Nellie Scrugham, the Misses De 
Wint, Mrs. Fisher Morris, and Airs. Edward Verplanck. 
Ob j ect — Baptism . 

Gifts for the sick poor and articles for a fair for the 
benefit of Bishop Brewer's Hospital were made by the circle 
in 1889. Also gifts for the " Yonkers Nursery and Home." 

circle "no. 3." 

GOLDEN RULE CIRCLE, K. D. 

Mrs. Hastings, President, Ada B. Belknap, Secretary, 
Susan Clark, Lizzie Williams, May Bashford, Mary Cobb, 
Miss Reinfelder, and Mrs. Beardsley. 

The Golden Rule Circle is composed of three Tens : a 
young ladies' Ten, a Ten of married ladies, and a Ten of 
young men. The Circle was formed by Mrs. Esther E. 
Hastings, who is President of the several Tens. The special 
object of the Circle is to help the sick and poor. 

CIRCLE " NO. 4." 

"LOVE AXD SERVE." 

Miss Bashford, President, Airs. John Copcutt, Elizabeth 
Katharine Humason, Carol Seymour Humason, Alice M. 
Edgar, Gertrude E. Underhill, Marion A. Chase, Gertrude 
Chase, Carrie Emerson, Adeline F. Keeler, Annie Mason, 
and Katharine Getty. Organized February 14, 1889. Ob- 
ject — To sew for some poor little needy ones. 

The primary department of the school is efficiently 
taught by Mrs. E. L. Chapman, who is assisted by Miss 
Sarah Hill and Mrs. L. C. Wray. The Commandments, 
the Apostles' Creed, the Church Catechism, and lessons 
from "The Story of the Bible" are taught. "The Pic- 
torial Gospel Reading," consisting of large colored pic- 
tures illustrative of the lesson, is used, and a paper en- 
titled "The Young Christian Soldier" is distributed. 
This department, under its present superintendent, has 



58 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

largely increased in interest and membership from one 
hundred and fifty pupils to its present number, two hun- 
dred and thirty-five. 

The largest and advanced Bible-class in the school 
is taught by Mrs. E. L. Chapman. This class numbers 
from thirty-five to forty members of men and women, many 
of whom are heads of families. 

Mrs. Dewitt C. Kellinger is in charge of a large and in- 
teresting class of young ladies numbering twenty. 

The rector, desiring to increase the interest of the boys 
in the church and Sunday work, suggested the organization 
of a boys' club, " with weekly meetings, when such exer- 
cises or amusements could be enjoyed by them as would 
make their connection with the Sunday-school a source of 
pleasure and relaxation, as well as a duty." 

A boys' club was organized, the name of St. John's 
Cadets was adopted ; and an eagle on a pink ribbon, bear- 
ing the motto " Onward," was selected as the badge. The 
first meeting was on Tuesday, November 5, 1888. The 
second meeting was held on Thursday, November 14, when 
there were sixty-six boys present. 

As the movement was naturally a parochial one, and it 
was thought, also, that such a course would be interesting 
and attractive to the boys, it was decided to adopt a system 
of issuing certificates of membership to be countersigned 
by the Sunday-school teacher. 

The cadets are under the supervision of the following 
gentlemen: Commandant, Henry T. Bragg (late Captain 13th 
Regiment, N. G., S. N. Y.) ; assisted by Mr. William B. Froe- 
ligh (of 3d Battery, N. G., S. N. Y.), and Mr. August Miller. 

The meetings are held weekly on Thursday evening, 
at 7:30, in the chapel. 

St. John's Church was crowded with children and 
friends on Saturday evening at six o'clock, December 28, 
1889, when the Sunday-school festival was held. A large 
and beautifully decorated Christmas-tree stood in the chan- 
cel, surmounted by a star. 

The rector, the Rev. Alexander B. Carver, conducted the 
services, and delivered a very felicitous fifteen-minute ad- 
dress that interested the children greatly. He illustrated 



ST. JOHN'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 59 

in simple language the fact that something good is pretty 
certain to come out of whatever seems hard to accomplish 
or to understand, and that troubles in this life are prepara- 
tory to appreciation of the joys in the life to come. 

Seven carols were sung by the school, and one by the 
infant class. The latter was rendered with the usual child- 
ish vigor that never fails to please. The second carol sung 
by the school was one the words and music of which were 
composed by Mrs. Alexander B. Carver. The music was 
pretty, and the words were as follows : 

Hail to thee, thou Prince of glory ! 

Ring the joy-bells far and wide ; 
Welcome to the blessed Christ-child, 

Welcome now to Christmas-tide. 

Chorus.— Alleluia ! Alleluia ! 
Echoing hills take up the strain. 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 
Christ has come to earth again. 

Heavenly realms resound with music, 

Seraphim adore thy face, 
We on earth are lowly bending, 

Bless us with thy royal grace. 

Chant we of thy glorious advent; 

Listening choirs, from far above, 
Catch the glad refrain, and answer : 

Crown him Prince of Peace and Love ! 

The little children's presents were dolls and toys, and 
rich and wholesome candies were distributed. The elder 
scholars received books principally, It was a very happy 
occasion. 

The opening exercises of the school are always con- 
ducted by the rector when present, and at the opening, re- 
cently, the Rev. Alexander Carver, rector, in a few brief re- 
marks, spoke of his earnest desire for its prosperity, and 
hoped that the teachers would unite with him in his efforts 
to make the school attractive. He also commended the 
pupils for their singing and for so heartily uniting in the 
responsive reading, and said while doing so well, they could 
still do better, and mentioned his intention of having the 
first Sunday in the month set apart for catechising the 



60 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

children from the Church Catechism, and in conclusion said, 
" You do not come here primarily to learn about the church, 
but more than that : you come to study and learn about the 
life of Christ and his teachings — Christ in the Old Testa- 
ment and Christ in the New Testament." 

The lessons taught in this school are from the Old and 
New Testament and Church Catechism. The collections 
taken up are appropriated to the Sunday-school and mis- 
sionary work. Collections for missionary work are taken 
up at the Christmas and Easter festivals. 

One of the pupils of this Sunday-school, the son of the 
Rev. Henry Lemuel Storrs, D. D., entered the ministry. A 
son of Henry Anstice, a former superintendent of the same 
school, entered the ministry, and is now the Rev. Henry 
Anstice, D. D., rector of the St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 
Rochester, N. Y., where he has been located for the past 
twenty years. 

We have given simply the history of the school in 
facts and figures. The spiritual work of the school cannot 
be so estimated nor fully known until " the day shall de- 
clare it." Suffice it to say this is the primary thought in 
the minds of rector, superintendent, and teachers. From 
this Sunday-school many have been confirmed and are now 
consistent and active members of the church. 

The names of the superintendents who have had 
charge of the school, so far as can be ascertained, are: 
Thaddeus Rockwell, who served under the rectorship of the 
Rev. Alex. H. Crosby ; Thomas O. Farrington, who served 
under the rectorship of the Rev. Henry Lemuel Storrs ; 
Henry Anstice, served under the rectorship of the Rev. 
Abraham Beach Carter, D. D.; John N. Stearns, under the 
rectorship of the Rev. Abraham Beach Carter, D. D. ; S. 
Emmet Getty, under the rectorships of the Rev. Drs. 
Carter, Thomas A. Jaggar, and William S. Langford. 

John P. Groshon took charge of the school in May, 
1875, and has served under the rectorships of the Rev. Wil- 
liam S. Langford, D. D., the Rev. Addison B. Atkins, D. D., 
and the Rev. James Haughton. He was succeeded by the 
Rev. August Ulmann, late rector of Christ Church, Yon- 
kers, who served under the rectorship of the Rev. James 



ST. JOHN'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 



6l 



Haughton, then by the Rev. R. Herbert Gesner, who is 
now rector of the Hyde Park (N. Y.) Episcopal Church, 
under the Rev. James Haughton. 

John P. Groshon was again appointed by the Rev. 
Alexander B. Carver, who came to the parish May 15, 1877. 
The record book shows an interesting fact, that Mr. Gro- 
shon, during the entire term of thirteen years as superin- 
tendent of the school, has never been late or absent. 

Mr. Samuel A. Moore, for his long term of service of 
twenty years as teacher in connection with this Sunday- 
school, has his name enrolled among the honorary list of 
Sunday-school workers in Yonkers. 

Sunday-school offerings for year ending September, 
1889, $162 82. The present enrolment, April, 1890: Bible 
classes, 60 ; intermediate, 300 ; primary, 240 ; officers and 
teachers, 37. Total, 650. 

The present officers and teachers of the Sunday-school 
are as follows : 



Superintendent, 
Lay Superintendent, 
Assistant Superintendent, 
Secretary, - 
Librarian, ... 
Assistant Librarian, 
Organist, - 

Miss Moore, 
Miss Skinner, 
Miss M. Guilford, 
Miss Verplanck, 
Miss Wellman, 
Mr. Wm. Gaul, 
Mr. H. Back, 
Miss E. Varian, 
Miss J. Waring, 
Miss A. B. Belknap, 
Miss Hoheim, 
Mr. Miller, 
Mrs. Humason, 
Miss Shotts, 
Miss Rose, 



The Rev. Alexander B. Carver. 

John P. Groshon. 

James E. Freeman. 

R. E. Belknap. 

Ernest Getty. 

Wallace Guilford. 

Miss Minnie Bayer. 

Teachers. 

Miss Kerr, 
Mrs. George Cobb, 
Miss Clark, 
Mr. Sheldon, 
Mrs. Close, 
Mrs. Farrington, 
Miss Borgman, 
Miss S. Waring, 
Mrs. Wm. Clark, 
Miss Barber, 
Miss Belknap, 
Miss Bashford, 
Miss Taylor, 
Mrs. J. E. Freeman, 
Miss Emerson. 



TEACHERS OF PRIMARY DEPARTMENT. 

Mrs. Eliza L. Chapman. Miss Sarah Hill, 2nd Ass't. 



Mrs. Lizzie C. Wray, 1st Ass't. 



Miss Minnie Bayer, Organist. 



62 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Total number of scholars of all ages for 1891, 460. 
Total number of scholars in Primary Department, 240. 
Mrs. D. C. Kellinger's Adult Bible-Class, 25. 
Mrs. E. L. Chapman's Adult Bible-Class, 40. 
Mr. James E. Freeman's Adult Bible-Class, 20. 
Sunday-school offerings, $300. 
In Library, Books, 611. 



THE MILE SQUARE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 63 

CHAPTER II. 

THE MILE SQUARE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

On the east side of the town of Yonkers, bordering the 
Bronx River, is situated a tract of land called the Mile 
Square, lying principally in a beautiful vale watered by the 
river and sheltered by picturesque hills. This tract was 
exempted out of the great manorial patent of 1693, and 
appears originally to have formed a part of the possessions 
of the Dough tys of Flushing, as we find John Doughty, of 
that place, in 1670, selling sixty-four acres of land here, in 
one square mile, to Francis French, Ebenezer Jones, and 
John Wascot. In the year 1685 John Hiatt, of Bronx's 
River, deeds sixty acres of upland to Hopestill Betts, of the 
Younckers, this sale being a part of the whole tract of land 
called by the name of the Mile Square. Tradition says 
that this place was given by Frederick Philipse as a dower 
portion when his daughter Annetje married Philip French. 
From the French and Jones family it passed by sale to the 
Oakleys, Bertines, Curwells, Sherwoods, and Riches. 

Mile Square during the war of the Revolution was a 
favorite camp-ground with both armies, on account of its 
sheltered situation and vicinity to the water. Here were 
quartered Col. Emmerick's British Light Horse, and the 
British Hussars were billeted here for several summers. 
For security the roads were patrolled and videttes stretched 
along the neighboring heights. 

In 1776 the American Rifle Corps were stationed here, 
and from this place crossed the Bronx to attack and harass 
the British flank as they moved towards White Plains, 
after landing on Throgmorton's Neck. Subsequent to the 
memorable battle of White Plains the British returned to 
Mile Square, reconstructed Hunt's bridge, and occupied 
the hill forts.* 

In the old district schoolhouse of this historic little 
hamlet a Sunday-school was opened in 1836-37 by Miss Car- 

* Bolton's History of the County of Westchester, page 430. 



64 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

oline Jones, daughter of William Jones, warden in "St. John's 
Church, Yonkers, who was commonly known as " Gentle- 
man Jones," on account of his uniform urbanity of manner. 

Miss Jones was assisted by a Mrs. Tremaine. Both 
were deeply interested in the prosperity and success of the 
little enterprise, and devoted their time and means to ad- 
vance its interests. Miss Jones was the superintendent 
and led the singing, and the pupils became very much 
attached to her. She always remembered them by beauti- 
ful gifts at Christmas. The school at that time numbered 
between twenty and twenty-five scholars. The teachers 
were Misses Sarah and Louisa Jones, sisters of the super- 
intendent, and Isaac Sherwood. The Rev. Alexander H. 
Crosby, the rector of St. John's Church in Yonkers, fre- 
quently visited this school and catechised the children in 
the Church Catechism, as did his successor, the Rev. Henry 
L. Storrs, who interested the children by his pleasant talks 
to them. 

How long Miss Jones took charge of the school cannot 
be definitely ascertained. Some of the present residents of 
Mile Square have Prayer Books which were given to them 
while pupils in this Sunday-school, and the date of their 
presentation, in the handwriting of Miss Jones, is 1841. 

In the year 1850 James Odell was the superintendent, 
and in the year 1854 Miss Anna Seymour (now Mrs. George 
Burgess), was superintendent for a brief period. From 
that date the school became a union effort, and members 
from different denominations took an interest in it, and 
among its teachers were those who belonged to the Episco- 
palian, Presbyterian, Congregationalist, Baptist, Methodist, 
and Reformed Churches. From this time it was known as 
"The Mile Square Union Sunday-school." 

No written record of the school since the above men- 
tioned date can be found, consequently the information 
obtained and the facts stated are from those who have been 
connected with it during the following years. 

Through the efforts of Miss Julia E. Hunter and her 
mother, Mrs. J. M. Hunter, who was a member of the con- 
gregation of the First Presbyterian Church in Yonkers, a 
few children were gathered in the year 1859, and Lucius 



THE MILE SQUARE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 65 

Spring, a son of Rev. Gardiner Spring, D. D., was made 
superintendent. 

Mrs. Isaac S. Valentine, Mrs. Julia M. Hunter, and 
Miss Julia E. Hunter were the teachers at this time. The 
school flourished and soon aroused an interest in the neigh- 
borhood. A Mr. Watt succeeded Mr. Spring as superin- 
tendent, the latter moving away from the place. 

Edward A. Morrison, a member of the Reformed 
Church in New York, was elected superintendent and 
served about one year, the school then numbering between 
twenty-five and thirty scholars. Mrs. Hunter, Miss Julia 
E. Hunter, Miss Sarah E. Valentine, Miss Fanny M. Val- 
entine, and two others, whose names cannot be recalled, 
were the teachers. 

In the latter part of the year 1873 Marshall H. Clement, 
then a member of the Reformed Church at Mt. Vernon, 
N. Y., now a member of the First Presbyterian Church of 
the same place, at the earnest solicitation of Mr. Morrison, 
became superintendent, and through his faithful efforts a 
new impetus was given to the school and it increased in 
numbers and usefulness. When Mr. Clement took charge of 
the school it numbered forty pupils, and during his super- 
intendency it increased to sixty. He continued with the 
school until the fall of 1885. During these twelve years he 
was assisted by an earnest working corps of teachers. 

Through the efforts of Mr. John Thurton the " Mile 
Square Christian Association " was organized and in coope- 
ration with the Sunday-school a large fair was held in the 
adjacent fields. Mrs. Thurton, Miss Kate Roberts, Miss 
Anna Kolb, John Mcintosh, and Samuel Stilwell, with 
many others, were actively engaged in this enterprise, 
which resulted in the raising of the sum of $800 towards 
the building fund of a church, which fund now amounts to 
about $1,200, still held in trust for this object. 

In the spring of 1875 Rev. Dr. David Cole, of the Re- 
formed Church of Yonkers, began volunteer preaching ser~ 
vices, and with the assistance of Rev. Mancius H. Hutton, 
of the Reformed Church in Mt. Vernon, an evening service 
was held every month. 

Rev. Mr. Hutton, finding that he was unable to con- 

Ctaurch and Sunday-schooi Work. c 



66 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

tinue this extra service besides the regular services of his 
own church, withdrew, and services were inaugurated and 
regularly held, conducted by Rev. Dr. Cole, assisted by 
some of the laymen of his own church at Yonkers. Dr. 
Cole continued to carry on these monthly services for six 
years. They were well attended and the audience frequent- 
ly numbered seventy-five, all the building could accom- 
modate. These labors of Dr. Cole, through the influence 
of the Holy Spirit, were greatly blessed, and through his 
instrumentality very many were gathered into the church. 
Mr. Thurton and family united with the church at Mt. Ver- 
non, and others with Dr. Cole's church in Yonkers. 

After the resignation of Mr. Clement, in 1885, the in- 
terest in the school began to decline, and owing to the 
removals of both teachers and pupils from the place, it was 
reduced to eighteen scholars. A vigorous effort was then 
made by Mr. Wilson and Miss J. E. H.unter to revive the 
interest and increase its numbers. Together they visited 
all the families who were then connected with it, or had 
been, and urged the attendance of the children. For a few 
Sundays there was a slight increase in attendance ; but it 
soon fell off and the school numbered about ten scholars. 
Miss Julia E. Hunter and Miss Frances Mankin continued 
to meet with the remaining few until cold weather, and as 
the accommodations were very poor and the interest so 
small, they disbanded. The school remains for the present 
closed. 

A movement is being made which it is hoped will 
result in the reopening of this Sunday-school in the near 
future. To all the earnest and faithful workers who have 
sown and who shall continue to sow spiritual seed in that 
part of the Master's vineyard, this promise is peculiarly 
appropriate and comforting : " And he that reapeth receiv- 
eth wages and gathereth fruit unto life eternal, that both 
he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together." 

" What 's done for time ends by-and-by, 
What 's done for God can never die." 

The names of the superintendents, so far as can be 
ascertained, are as follows : Miss Caroline Jones, who served 



THE MILE SQUARE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 6j 

from 1836 to 1 84 1, and who was succeeded by James Odell ; 
then Miss Anna Seymour, Isaac S. Valentine, Lucius 
Spring, Mr. Watt, Mrs. J. M. Hunter, Horace H. Thayer, 
Edward A. Morrison, and Marshall H. Clement. 

The teachers who have been connected with the school 
at different times are : Mrs. Tremaine, Miss Sarah Jones, 
Miss Louisa Jones, Miss Anna Seymour, Mrs. J. M. Hunter, 
Miss Julia E. Hunter, Miss Sarah E. Valentine, Miss Fanny 
M. Valentine, Miss Kate Hunter, Miss Natalie Jones, the 
Misses Hoffman, Miss Frances G. Mankin, Mrs. Thurton, 
Mr. Wilson, Horace H. Thayer, Fletcher A. Valentine, and 
William Piatt. 



68 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 



CHAPTER III. 

THE ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH (AT TUCKAHOE) AND 
SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

This parish (after existing for more than a half a cen- 
tury as a chapel of St. John's Church, Yonkers, N. Y., 
having had its connection with the above-mentioned parish 
severed by an act of the Vestry thereof) was founded by the 
Rev. Elias Cooper, rector of St. John's Church from 1789 to 
1 8 16, and organized according to law July 18, 1853. The 
church edifice, which was erected in 1798, is a small wooden 
structure, and stands on high ground, commanding an ex- 
tensive view of the surrounding country. The ground was 
a gift of Mr. John Bowne. On June 29, 1847, the church 
was consecrated to the service of Almighty God, under the 
name of St. John's Chapel, Tuckahoe, by the Rt. Rev. 
William Heathcote de Lancey, D. D., LL. D., the conse- 
cration sermon being preached by the Rev. Thomas W. 
Coit, D. D., a late rector of New Rochelle. 

Half an acre of land was presented to the Corporation 
by John and Elias Cooper, sons of the late John Bowne, Esq., 
upon which the vestry erected a parsonage. 

The number of baptisms in 1835 was three, communi- 
cants sixteen. The statistics of the church in 1883 were as 
follows: Communicants, 55; catechists and Sunday-school 
teachers, 6 ; Sunday-school children, 34. The money con- 
tributed in 1882 was $1,125 50, of which $1,000 was devoted 
to parish purposes. 

During the year 1888 the church built a rectory, which 
was completed in 1889, at a cost of three thousand dollars 
(with no indebtedness) upon grounds given to the church. 
The amount contributed for support of church is about 
$700 for the year 1889. The rectors and supplies of the 
church have been as follows : 

The Rev. Charles Jones, A. M., who was the first rector, 
from 1853-58. 



ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, TUCKAHOE. 69 

The Rev. Augustus St. Clair, supply only, from 1859-60. 
The Rev. David Doremus, supply only, from 1860-61. 
No incumbent from 1861-65. 

The Rev. Angus M. Ives, supply only, from 1865-80, 
who served the church most faithfully for fifteen years and 
was greatly beloved by his people, who erected a wall tablet 
to his memory in the church. 

The Rev. A. M. Ives was followed by the Rev. S. B. 
Moore and the Rev. James B. Neis. 

The present rector is the Rev. John W. Trimble, who 
received and accepted a call to become the rector of St 
John's Episcopal Church at Tuckahoe October 26, 1889. 

The present officers are as follows : Charles R. Dusen- 
berry and William H. Underhill, wardens ; Wilbur S. Un- 
derbill, Robert Thedford, Caleb A. Ives, Henry M. Under- 
hill, Samuel B. Jones, Thomas Dunn, Richard Thomson, 
and Samuel S. Horton, vestrymen. 

Parochial statistics, September 1, 1890: 

Number of souls - - - - - 114 

Baptisms 6 

Confirmed - 41 

Marriages - 1 

Burials 3 

Communicants 69 

Expenditures, total, for all objects, 1890, $983 05. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The Sunday-school connected with this church " was 
organized about the time the church was built, which was 
in 1798." The present number of pupils on the roll is fifty- 
five. 

" The Christmas festival of St. John's Church, Tucka- 
hoe, was held Monday evening, December 29, 1890. The 
church was beautifully decorated with wreaths, arches, and 
festoons of hemlock, holly, and laurel. A very beautiful 
Christmas-tree stood in front of the chancel, loaded with 
glittering ornaments, and these covered with a veil of silver 
and golden tinsel. 

" Back of the tree, on either side, were hung great bells 
of white and silver, bells of all sizes, which seemed to ring 
out the joyous Christmas chimes. These, with the tree 



70 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

and red walls of the chancel for background, made a very 
brilliant and beautiful sight. 

" The rector, the Rev. John W. Trimble, was assisted by 
the Rev. E. L. Hoffecker, of the Asbury Methodist Church, 
who read the lesson and delivered the first ' Christmas 
greeting.' The Rev. Mr. Trimble gave the second greet- 
ing, which was a hearty and merry one. 

" The singing of the carols by the school was very fine, 
being accompanied by the organ and violin. Noticeable 
among these were the carols, ' Ring on, sweet bells,' and 
' What do they say, these bells, to me ?' The closing prayer 
was by the school, all kneeling, ' Now I lay me down to 
sleep ' — a very appropriate ending for the little ones' festi- 
val. 

"While the gifts were being distributed, C. M. Staab 
sang very sweetly the old hymn, ' Holy Night, Silent Night,' 
which is always beautiful at Christmas-time. 

"Among the gifts distributed was a silver match-box, 
with a substantial lining, from the St. John's Legion to the 
rector. Gifts between teachers and scholars were also ex- 
changed." 

The present superintendent is Charles R. Dusenberry. 
The names of teachers are : Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur S. Under- 
bill, Mrs. S. M. Raisbeck, Miss Fannie Fee, Miss Lelie Fee, 
Miss Mary Fulton, Miss Sarah Horton, Miss Sarah J. Booker. 

Sunday-school offering, for September, 1890, $71 20. 



FIRST METHODIST CHURCH, TUCKAHOE. Jl 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF YONKERS 
(AT TUCKAHOE) AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The information concerning this church is obtained 
from Rev. William E.- Ketcham, and from the present 
pastor of the church, Rev. Edmund L. Hoflecker. 

Rev. Mr. Ketcham writes: " The time of the introduc- 
tion of Methodism into Yonkers cannot be definitely stated. 
A Methodist society was formed at Tuckahoe in 1771, the 
same year in which Methodism was introduced into New 
Rochelle by Rev. Joseph Pilmoor, one of Rev. John Wes- 
ley's missionaries. 

" The Rev. Francis Asbury (who subsequently became 
bishop) preached at Tuckahoe in 177 1. In the year 1773 
Mr. Peter Bonnett was active in securing preaching-places, 
and opened his own house for the Methodists. After his 
decease, Mrs. Sherwood, who was a widow, opened her 
house, and it became a regular preaching -place. This 
house stood on the site of the present residence of Mr. 
Charles R. Dusenbury. In July, 1797, Bishop Asbury 
writes : ' I met the society at the substitute house ' (the 
widow Sherwood's) . . . 

" Thus, after twenty-six years since this society was 
formed, they are about to build a place for the worship and 
the word of God. 

"That church (Tuckahoe) was dedicated Christmas 
day, 1 797, by Bishop Asbury. He, being too feeble to walk, 
was carried in a chair from Mrs. Sherwood's house to the 
church, and performed the ceremony seated in a chair. 
Moses Sherwood deeded ground for the church for the 
consideration of twenty -five dollars. The church was organ- 
ized at that time, Christmas day, December, 1797, but was 
never legally incorporated till February 13, 1855." 

The first Trustees were elected December 25, 1800. 
They were, First Class, Lewis Dubois and Henry Cronck. 



72 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Second Class, Jonathan Sherwood and Bishop Sherwood. 
Third Class, Aaron Lawrence and Jabez Fowler. On the 
minute-book of the church under date of December 25,1818, 
the election of Peter Underhill and Jonathan Sherwood as 
trustees, to fill vacancies, is recorded. 

The church at Tuckahoe was within the circuit of what 
was called the New Rochelle circuit from 1798 to 1825. 
Then from 1826 to 1852 it was with a circuit which from 
1826 to 1836 bore the name of the Kingsbridge circuit, and 
from 1836 to 1852 the name of the Yonkers circuit. Be- 
tween the last two dates the churches of Kingsbridge (or 
Mosholn), Yonkers, on North Broadway, and Tuckahoe 
were joined together, but between 1853 an d 1858 Yonkers 
was dropped from this connection, and Mosholn and Tuck- 
ahoe were left by themselves. In 1858 Tuckahoe was made 
a separate station. From that date the preachers for Tuck- 
ahoe till 1867 were Rev. Nathaniel Mead, 1858-59; Rev. W. 
H. Evans, 1859-60; Rev. A. M. Hough, 1860-62; Rev. 
Aaron K. Sandford, 1862-64; Rev. Erastus L. Prentice, 
1864-67. 

The church edifice now in use was erected in 1866. 
Tuckahoe marble was used in its construction. There is a 
tablet over the main entrance door in front of the church 
with these words upon it, " Asbury Centenary M. E. Church, 
1866," which is incorrect as to the name Of the church. The 
corporate name of the church is " The First Methodist Epis- 
copal Church of Yonkers." This church has borne the said 
corporate name for nearly a century. The church is in the 
town of Yonkers. 

The corner-stone of the church was laid in September, 
1 866, by Bishop Edward S. Janes, and was also dedicated by 
him on February 20, 1 867. It was built under the pastor- 
ate of Rev. Erastus L. Prentice. The preachers from the 
date of dedication have been, Rev. Gideon Draper, D. D., 
Rev. S. M. Vernon, Rev. John W. Ackerley, Rev. Oscar 
Haviland, Rev. Benjamin N. Lewis, Rev. George W. Tar- 
bush, Rev. John W. Selleck, Rev. Frank Bottome, D. D., 
Rev. David McCartney. The parsonage was built under the 
pastorate of Rev. Nathaniel Mead, in 1858. 

The present pastor, Rev. Edmund L. Hoffecker, who is 



FIRST METHODIST CHURCH, TUCKAHOE. JT> 

serving the church with great acceptance, was appointed in 
April, 1888. He is a Marylander by birth, and of an old 
slave-holding family. He was born in 1853, became a 
Christian in 1 869, was educated at Washington College, and 
entered the ministry in 1876. Such are the bare facts of a 
somewhat laborious life. In May, 1889, a fine pipe organ 
was erected in the church. It is a very handsome instru- 
ment with cathedral finish. Mrs. Julie Lent, nee Merritt, 
presides at the organ, and plays with skill and efficiency. 
The new organ adds much attraction to the church and 
dignity to the services. The church is in a better condition 
now than for some years. The congregation is larger, and 
the church property was never in a better condition. The 
valuation of the church property is $35,000. The amount 
contributed for benevolence in 1887 was one hundred and 
seventy dollars. The amount contributed for missions and 
for other benevolent collections for the Conference year 
ending April, 1890, was two hundred and twenty-six dollars. 
The present membership is one hundred. The present 
Trustees are as follows : Nathaniel Reynolds, Pres. ; Her- 
bert Lent, Sec. ; I. V. Underhill, Caleb T. Underhill, Chas. 
A. Hodgman, George Ferris, Chas. Dusenberry, Frank De 
Frate, James Young. 

Stewards : Nathan Reynolds, I. V. Vanderbilt, C. F. 
Underhill, Chas. A. Hodgman, Frank De Frate, Jesse Rey- 
nolds, I. N. Matthews. 

In the graveyard connected with this church the oldest 
stone bears the date 1 800. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The Sunday-school was established about the year 
1797, and has prospered until the present time. The su- 
perintendent of the school in 1887 was the present super- 
intendent, Isaac V. Underhill. The school numbered 
seventy pupils and fifteen officers and teachers. 

At this writing, May, 1 891, it has eighty-nine pupils and 
fifteen officers and teachers. The names of the present 
officers and teachers are as follows : I. V. Underhill, Super- 
intendent ; George Booker, Librarian and Secretary. 
Teachers.— E. L. HorTecker," Mrs. Lizzie Merritt, A. O. 



74 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Young, Iva Lent, Miss Marie Hodgman, Annie Davidson, 
Mrs: Mary Hodgman, and Mary Swain. 

Miss Annie Davidson has the primary class. In all the 
classes the Berean Lessons, Leaves and Quarterlies, are 
used. They are published at the Book Concern, N. Y. 
Four persons united with the church from the Sunday- 
school during the year 1889. The Sunday-school contribu- 
ted for missions in 1 890 fifteen dollars. 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 75 



CHAPTER V. 

THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND SUNDAY- 
SCHOOL. 

(Corner North Broadway and Ashburton Avenue.) 

" This church is, in the order of time, the second Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church founded within the limits of the 
present city of Yonkers. 

"It is called ' The First Methodist Episcopal Church 
of Yonkers, N. Y.' That it is not ' The First ' has been 
shown in the history of the Methodist Episcopal Church at 
Tuckahoe, N. Y. And also in the minutes of the New 
York Conference the two churches have been spoken of, 
not by their corporate names, but as the Tuckahoe and 
Yonkers churches." 

On the old post road from Albany, facing the old 
country road to the Neperah, or Sawmill River (now the 
northeast corner of North Broadway and Ashburton Ave- 
nue), stood the little district schoolhouse surrounded by 
tall poplar and weeping- willow trees. In this antiquated, 
dingy, weather-beaten, one-story frame building, which 
consisted of one room 12 by 28, the first sermon now re- 
membered as heard in Yonkers from a Methodist preacher 
was delivered in the year 1826. A class of five members 
was organized, and in due time this became one of the 
regular appointments on the Kingsbridge Circuit. In this 
old building church services were held about once a month 
when the circuit preacher could " get around." 

The late Searing Howell, of this city, recalled a mem- 
orable occasion in connection with this little schoolhouse 
in which a love feast was held. After the close of this ser- 
vice the congregation, with others whom the room could 
not accommodate, gathered under the willow-trees to listen 
to the sermon then preached. And also of the time when 
the subject of building a church was first discussed, at a 
meeting of half a dozen members of the church. This was 
in the year 1826. 



y6 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

"On the 21st of April, 1828, a free deed of the land 
upon which the present church stands was given by Lem- 
uel Wells to Alfred Thompson, Frederic Shonnard, Thomas 
Griffin, Joseph Oakley, and David Oakley, in trust for the 
Methodist Episcopal Church of Yonkers." 

At the close of that year the church building was 
completed and dedicated. Rev. Noah Levings, " the silver- 
tongued orator," preached the dedicatory sermon. The 
building was a small wooden structure, painted white with 
green blinds. It was located directly opposite the little 
schoolhouse, on the southeast corner of the old Albany post 
road and the little country road leading to the Sawmill 
River, the latter running directly in front of the building, 
the site of which is now the southeast corner of North 
Broadway and Ashburton Avenue. The church was sur- 
rounded by tall cedar-trees, the entrance being on the 
south side. 

"On the 14th of August, 1839, Frederic Shonnard and 
wife, ' for the love and affection which they bore towards 
said church, and one dollar,' deeded to Christ Methodist 
Episcopal Church — the original corporate name — the plot 
of ground used for the parsonage." This was the first par- 
sonage and stood in the rear of the old church building. 
The present parsonage was built in 187 1. It cost $5,000. 

In the year 1854 the old church building was enlarged 
by the addition of transepts. A tower was also put on the 
northwest corner of the building and the main entrance 
was changed from the south to the west, on Broadway, the 
entrance on the south still remaining in use. The whole 
interior of the church was renovated and beautified. Be- 
hind the pulpit was painted a beautiful representation of a 
series of arches and columns of the Doric order of architec- 
ture, the perspective of which was very fine. The base- 
ment was also fitted up for the use of the Sunday-school. 

December 28, 1878, the church celebrated the semi- 
centennial of Methodism in Yonkers. 

The morning sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Fow- 
ler. At three P. M. Rev. Dr. Stratton conducted a confer- 
ence meeting. 

The evening service began by the singing of "All 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. JJ 

hail the power of Jesus' name," which was followed by 
prayer by Rev. David Cole, D. D. Rev. Dr. Wheeler, 
editor of " The Methodist," preached the sermon. An 
original hymn, which was written for the occasion by a 
former pastor of the church, Rev. Frank Bottome, D. D., 
was sung. Prof. John A. Harding, organist of the Re- 
formed church, led the singing at all these services. To 
the left of the pulpit were placarded the following statistics, 
setting forth the wondrous growth of the denomination 
and well calculated to cheer the heart of every Methodist. 
1766. Members, 4; preachers, 1. 
1778. Members, 6,095 ; preachers, 29. 
1828. Members, 419,000; preachers, 1,642. Missionary 
collections, $6,245. 

1878. Members, 3,315,000; preachers, 30,000. Value 
of church property, $110,000,000. Missionary collections, 
$800,000. Members of Sunday-school, 3,857,330. 

Rev. L. H. King, D. D., pastor of the church at that 
time, prepared a list of the names of its useful and honored 
pastors, twenty-seven in all, since its organization. These 
names were printed on white muslin charts and placed on 
the wall and at the right of the pulpit. 

The first name on the list was that of the Rev. E. Hib- 
bard, the first pastor of the church. The last name on the 
list was that of Rev. Lucius H. King, D. D., who was three 
times pastor of this church. 

The last Sunday service held in the old house of wor- 
ship of the First Methodist Church was on Sunday, June 6, 
1886. Both the morning and evening services were pecu- 
liarly interesting and were largely attended by the mem- 
bers of the congregation and others. The audience-room 
was filled from pulpit to pew, and chairs were placed in the 
altar and aisles to accommodate those who were present on 
this occasion, while many were unable to obtain entrance to 
the church. The pastor of the church, Rev. Abraham J. 
Palmer, D. D., conducted the exercises in the evening. 
Rev. C. W. Millard, pastor of the Central Methodist 
Church, read the opening hymn. Rev. Dr. Palmer offered 
the opening prayer. Rev. William Pickens, by request of 
Rev. Dr. King, read the following hymn : 



78 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

" My gracious Lord, I own thy right," 
which the congregation heartily united in singing. 

The Rev. Dr. L. H. King* preached a most instructive 
and eloquent sermon from the text found in Rom. 14:7, 
" For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to 
himself," closing with an earnest and affectionate appeal 
to the unconverted to become reconciled to Christ. He 
then read some original lines. The closing stanza reads 
thus : 

" Farewell to the church where we have worshipped so long, 
Made sacred by prayer and hallowed by song ; 
Farewell to the walls, altar, pulpit, and pew, 
For these must give place to those which are new; 
And may the new temple, more spacious and bright, 
Be ever found battling for God and the right, 
Until thousands, redeemed from sin and despair, 
Shall raise the glad shout, We all were born there !" 

These services concluded by singing the well-known 
hymn, " I love thy kingdom, Lord," and the benediction 
by the pastor. 

The last sermon preached in the old church building 
was by Rev. William E. Ketcham — the occasion being that 
of a funeral — from the text, " The Lord shall make bright 
clouds." Zech. 10: 1. 

The Rev. Dr. George E. Strobridge, in an article which 
appeared in the "Christian Advocate" of August 22, 1889, 
gives an account of the early effort which led to the erec- 
tion of the new church as follows : 

" This church is the third in turn that has stood on the 

* "Entered into the rest that remaineth for the people of God," from 
his home in New York city, on November 18, 1887, Rev. Lucius H. King, 
D. D. 

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, November 22, at the church 
of which he was the pastor, and were largely attended by members of the 
New York Conference and others, and the exercises were of the most im- 
pressive character. The interment was at St. John's Cemetery, Yonkers, 
on Wednesday morning, November 23. Rev. Dr. Palmer, Rev. Dr. Oak- 
ley, Revs. C. W. Millard, J. W. Ackerley, and Clark Wright took part in the 
services there. 

A memorial service was also held in the Central Methodist Church of 
Yonkers, of which he was formerly pastor, on Sunday evening, November 
29, 1887. Rev. Charles W. Millard, pastor of the church, Rev. William 
Pickens, of Yonkers, Ruben Barnes, and A. T. Serrell took part therein. 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 79 

same site. The effort which culminated in its erection 
was begun with the appointment of Rev. Wm. E. Ketcham. 
The story of his indefatigable labors is best told in his own 
words : 

" ' As I entered upon my work in the spring of 1883 I 
observed that it was highly important, for the future growth 
of our beloved Methodism, to secure as early as possible the 
erection of a new church. I studiously and with all the 
tact at my command kept the consideration of this out of 
the monthly official meetings for one year. The project 
did not,. however, slumber or sleep in my brain or on my 
tongue. Everywhere I talked, prayed, and preached new 
church except in the official meeting., 

" ' Thus a year passed, a year of seed-sowing. At the 
meeting of the Board of Trustees held July 7, 1884, a be- 
ginning was made in the official consideration of the sub- 
ject, and after numerous consultations, vexatious delays, 
changing of architects and plans, at length the committee 
having the matter in charge consented to allow the circula- 
tion by me of a subscription on the condition that I should 
raise $25,000. 

" ' For a solid year after I pegged away night and day, 
in heat and cold, to secure the end. Many persons were 
called upon, some from five to fifteen times, before a final 
answer was given. I always carried a memorandum of 
names with amounts assessed to cover the entire sum of 
$25,000. This I constantly changed as some " fell out " and 
others "fell in." I often studied the possible loss of sev- 
eral thousand dollars, and would make a new list, supply- 
ing said possible loss with new estimates, always bringing 
my sum out at $25,000. 

" ' At last, March 28, 1886, the amount of $27,640 stood 
upon my subscription-book. This subscription, with the 
new plans substantially as they are to-day, with the resolu- 
tion of the brethren to build at once, was passed over to 
Dr. Palmer, my successor. 

"'I cannot tell in all fulness what it cost of work, 
prayer, and tears. One thing I am well assured of, that 
the effort was determined. Moreover, this also I know, that 
no self -glory to attain was mine.' 



8o CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

" Readers of this modest sketch cannot form any prop- 
er estimate of the difficulties and discouragements through 
which this dear brother struggled, consuming the whole of 
his pastoral term and committing to his successor the im- 
portant but as yet hidden results of his work. His phe- 
nomenal enthusiasm, his patience and persistence, his faith 
and energy, will ever be the wonder and admiration of this 
appreciative people. He has the right of way unchallenged 
to their hearts. None is more deserving than he, and none 
could be better beloved." 

Another clergyman of the New York Conference 
writes concerning Rev. Mr. Ketcham's efforts in connec- 
tion with the new church : " Only they who know how 
grandly he surmounted obstacles which seemed insur- 
mountable, and not only made possible, but compelled the 
erection of a new sanctuary, can recognize the lasting 
claims he has on the Methodism and Christianity of Yon- 
kers. Where others flashed he shone ; where others talked 
he toiled." 

The services of the laying of the corner-stone of the 
new church were held in the First Presbyterian Church on 
Tuesday evening, October 19, 1886. Rev. G. H. Gregory, 
D. D., Presiding Elder of the district, conducted the servi- 
ces, assisted by Rev. W. E. Ketcham, Rev. C. W. Millard, 
Rev. Dr. David Cole, Rev. John Reid, Rev. Merritt Hul- 
burd, Bishop John F. Hurst. 

Rev. Dr. Gregory stated that the anticipated cost of 
the church building was between $50,000 and $60,000, and 
that there was yet lacking nearly $23,000. This amount 
was somewhat reduced by the collection taken up that 
evening. 

The copper box which was to be placed in the corner- 
stone was exhibited, and by request Merritt H. Smith, 
President of the Board of Trustees, read the following list 
of articles which it contained : " Origin and history of the 
First Methodist Episcopal Church of Yonkers ; a list of its 
pastors ; names of the present pastor, board of trustees, 
stewards, and leaders ; names of the Bishops of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church, names of all subscribers and con- 
tributors to the fund for the new church up to date ; Disci- 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 8 1 

pline, Bible, and hymn-book ; Conference sermon by Bishop 
Hurst ; minutes of the Conference ; copies of the ' Christian 
Advocate,' ' The Yonkers Gazette,' and ' The Yonkers 
Statesman ;' New York papers ; report of the Woman's 
Christian Temperance Union of Yonkers ; copy of the ser- 
vices of laying the corner-stone ; names of the building 
committee, architect, masons, and carpenter of the new 
church ; names of the pastors of all the churches of Yon- 
kers, President and Vice-President of the United States, 
Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the State of New 
York, Mayor and Common Council of Yonkers ; a piece of 
the old John Street Church, the first Methodist church 
built in America ; apex of the spire of the First Methodist 
Church in Yonkers ; copy of ' The Statesman ' of June 4, 
with an account of the last sociable held in the old church ; 
' The Statesman ' of June 7, with report of the last Sun- 
day's sermon in the old church, by Rev. Dr. King ; and the 
names of the officers, teachers, and scholars of the Sunday- 
school." 

At the conclusion of the service the clergymen and 
congregation went to the site of the new church edifice, on 
that of the old one (on 'the southeast corner of North Broad- 
way and Ashburton Avenue), where under the brilliant 
calcium light the scene presented was most impressive. 

Bishop Hurst offered a prayer and a few preliminary 
remarks, after which Rev. Wm. E. Ketcham read a portion 
of Scripture, struck the stone with a hammer, and said, " In 
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy 
Ghost we lay this corner-stone for the foundation of a 
house to be builded and consecrated to the service of 
Almighty God, according to the order and usages of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church." 

The doxology was then sung, when Rev. Dr. Gregory 
pronounced the benediction. 

On the corner-stone is cut this inscription: ''First 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 1 828-1 886." 

The style of architecture of this church is modernized 
Romanesque. It is of rock face light Belleville stone, with 
dark brown stone trimmings. There is a tower on the 
southeast corner of Broadway and Ashburton Avenue 

Church and Sunday-school Work. Q 



82 



CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 



entirely of stone, one hundred feet from the sidewalk. It 
runs square about sixty feet and terminates with a forty- 
foot spire. There is also a smaller low staircase tower on 
the southwest corner, octagonal in shape. 











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FIRST METHODIST CHURCH. 



On the Broadway front is a porch with double stair- 
ways, twenty feet wide, to the main entrance of the church. 
This porch is ornamented with wrought iron-work roof. 
There is also an entrance to the church proper on the 
Ashburton Avenue side and to the Sunday-school rooms, 
and one on the Broadway side to the social room, 6o by 35. 
Under the Sunday-school room is a kitchen and toilet-room 
for both the social and Sunday-school rooms. The base- 
ments are lighted by large windows glazed with colored 
glass. 

Through the main auditorium there are two lines of 
columns which help to support the open - timbered roof. 
The interior columns are connected longitudinally with 
ornamented arcade arches, with ornamental sawed work 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 83 

above. The caps of the columns are moulded and carved. 
The Sunday-school room in the rear has an open-timbered 
roof, made to correspond with the main roof. The con- 
struction of the roof and of all the interior trimmings is of 
yellow pine, stained and varnished. 

The chancel arch is supported by two large round 
columns with ornamental caps and bases, and enriched 
with ornamental plaster-work. The main auditorium is 
lighted by double mullioned and transomed windows filled 
with opalescent glass. The pews and pulpit furniture are 
of ash, stained and varnished to correspond with the other 
woodwork. There are four aisles. 

The church has a frontage of seventy-five on North 
Broadway and one hundred and thirty-five feet on Ashbur- 
ton Avenue. The main auditorium of the building is sixty- 
three feet wide and seventy-six feet deep. The pulpit is 
located at the east end, with organ-loft and choir behind. 

On the west end is a gallery capable of seating one 
hundred people. The seating capacity of the main audi- 
torium is seven hundred. The main Sunday-school room, 
class, society, and infant-class rooms, and the pastor's study 
and library occupy the easterly end of the church, all spa- 
cious in size, well lighted and well ventilated. 

The original plan, as stated by the architect of the 
church, has been carried out with a few alterations. Rob- 
ert H. Robertson, of New York, was the architect. The 
Building Committee were J. E. Andrus, J. C. Havemeyer, 
S. F. Quick, C. R. Leffingwell, and John Sherwood. Never 
was an important enterprise in safer charge. With a 
patience and watchful care unsurpassed they kept their 
eye and hand upon the work until it was brought to a suc- 
cessful end. 

While awaiting the completion of the chapel of the 
new church, the congregation, by invitation of the trustees 
and members of the Central Methodist Church, held their 
Sunday services with their congregation. 

On the morning of the 23d of October, 1887, the con- 
gregation assembled for the first time in the chapel of their 
new church building. The services began by the singing 
of the 770th hymn, " I love thy kingdom, Lord." Rev. Dr. 



84 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Palmer, Presiding Elder, offered the dedicatory prayer, at 
the close of which the congregation joined him in the 
Lord's Prayer. Rev. Dr. George E. Strob ridge, pastor of 
the church, then read the 84th Psalm. 

After a few words of welcome to their new church 
home, addressed to the congregation by the pastor, Charles 
R. Lefhngwell read a number of resolutions embodying 
their thanks to the trustees, members, and pastor of the 
Central Methodist Episcopal Church, with which they had 
the privilege of worshipping for more than fifteen months. 
These resolutions were unanimously adopted, and a certi- 
fied copy directed to be sent to the Central Church. 

Dr. Strobridge preached an able and eloquent discourse 
from these words : " I was glad when they said unto me, 
Let us go into the house of the Lord," Psa. 122: 1, at the 
close of which $1,050 was contributed for the chapel. 

In the evening Dr. Strobridge preached to a large con- 
gregation, from Mark 1:37: " All men seek for Thee." 

While awaiting the completion of the main audience- 
room of this church the regular services were held in the 
chapel. 

The new church was dedicated Sunday, September 9, 
1888. Rev. John Miley, D. D., Rev. Dr. A. J. Palmer, and 
Bishop R. S. Foster took part in the morning service, the 
latter preaching the sermon from 1 Tim. 5:8: " But if any 
provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own 
house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an in- 
fidel," at the close of which subscriptions were taken up 
amounting to more than $20,000, after which the doxology 
was sung, and Bishop Fitzgerald pronounced the benedic- 
tion. 

At the afternoon service Rev. William E. Ketcham 
presided, and short addresses were delivered by Rev. Dr. 
O. H. Tiffany, Rev. Dr. Palmer, Rev. Dr. R. M. Stratton, 
Rev. F. Hamlin, and Rev. Delos Lull. 

The references of former pastors to preachers and 
members who have passed to the better land were exceed- 
ingly interesting and touching. 

Bishop Fitzgerald preached the evening sermon from 
the text in Heb. 3:3: " For this man was counted worthy 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 8$ 

of more glory than Moses." In the evening the church 
was crowded to overflowing. Rev. Dr. H. M. Baird offered 
prayer. Rev. Dr. Palmer read the Scriptures. 

An address was delivered by John E. Andrus, the 
chairman of the Building Committee, which fairly electri- 
fied the large audience. He spoke in part as follows : 

"This church was not completed as a poor man's 
church, neither was it completed as a rich man's church, 
but it was completed as the church of the people, erected 
in honor of the ever-living God. I would speak of the 
effort which has made this day's happiness possible, an 
effort put forth when darkness surrounded, and no ray of 
light was seen nor any word of cheer was heard to gladden 
and encourage. Then a man came, a man with no muscle 
to grow weary, no nerve to relax, and a heart that never 
felt faint in this noble work. When you and I were care- 
less and indifferent this man with hand and foot and brain 
kept toiling on, knowing full well that a church would 
come. We, and people yet to come, would be ungrateful 
were we not to remember with lasting thankfulness the 
man who has done so much for us, so much for this church. 
Need I mention his name ? You know it well, the Rev. 
Wm. E. Ketcham. 

* * X * vr * 

" With those, and all others interested in the building 
of this church, I say, glad I am that we are at last assem- 
bled within its walls, glad that the voices of the workmen, 
the sound of the hammer, the trowel, and the saw, have 
died away in the stillness of the past. And in their stead 
we have already heard the voice of prayer and praise, the 
sound of the gospel, and sweet music falling pleasantly 
upon our ears. May I cherish the hope that they will con- 
tinue to fall on willing ears of a happy, contented, and 
united people occupying these pews on and on through 
many a far, far distant Sabbath day that you and I shall 
not live to see !" 

After which the dedicatory service took place, con- 
ducted by Bishop R. S. Foster, D. D., LL. D. The services 
were closed by the singing of a hymn and benediction. 

It will not be invidious to others who did what they 



86 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

could, and did a great deal, to say that the church was 
largely the gift of two laymen, Mr. John E. Andrus and 
Mr. John C. Havemeyer, the former giving one-third of 
the entire cost of the buildings. The gifts of the people 
on the day of dedication were $28,000, entirely freeing the 
property from debt. 

The new church cost (exclusive of the ground) $60,000. 
A large and handsome crayon portrait of Rev. William E. 
Ketcham, the gift of the congregation, was placed in the 
vestibule of the church on the day of the dedication. 

The financial statement of Charles R. Leffingwell, 
Secretary and Treasurer, for the first year in the new 
church was as follows: Payments, $5,284 81; receipts, 
$5,284 81. The church raised also eleven hundred dollars 
for benevolent purposes. 

The pastors of the First Methodist Church of Yonkers 
and their terms of service have been ; 1828, Rev. E. Hib- 
bard ; 1829-30, Rev. R. Seaman ; 1831-32, Rev. E. Hibbard; 
1833-34, Rev. E. Smith; 1835, Rev. T. Evans; 1836-37, 
Revs. E. Oldron and J. D. Bangs; 1838, Rev. J. Davies ; 
1839, Rev. H. Hatfield; 1840, Rev. Thomas Burch ; 1841, 
Rev. D. I. Wright; 1842-43, Rev. John A. Selleck; 1844- 
45, Rev. J. C. Green; 1846-47, Rev. C. C. Keys; 1848-49, 
Rev. Salmon C. Perry; 1850-51, Rev. Paul R. Brown; 1852, 
Rev. P. L. Hoyt; 1853, Rev. P. L. Sanf ord ; 1854, Rev. 
George Brown; 1855-56, Rev. J. B. Hagany ; 1857-58, Rev. 
P. Ward; 1859-60, Rev. L. H. King, D. D. ; 1861-62, Rev. 
Edwin R. Keyes; 1863-65, Rev. Joseph B. Wakeley ; 1866, 
Rev. Lucius H. King, D. D. ; 1867-69, Rev. Morris D. C. 
Crawford, D. D. ; 1870-71, Rev. Francis Bottome, D. D. ; 
1872-74, Rev. R. M. Stratton, D. D. ; 1875-77, Rev. Fletcher 
Hamlin: 1878-79, Rev. Lucius H. King, D. D. ; 1880-82, 
Rev. De Los Lull; 1883-86, Rev. William E. Ketcham; 
1886, Rev. Abraham J. Palmer, D. D. ; 1887 to April, 1890, 
Rev. George E. Strobridge, D. D. 

Rev. Dr. Strobridge's pastorate of the church was 
marked with success. He did much to build up the spir- 
itual and material interests of the church. He preached 
constantly the great doctrines and awakening truths of the 
Bible with earnestness and effectiveness. 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 87 

The number added to the membership of the church 
during his pastorate was one hundred and seventy-nine. 
He was succeeded by Rev. William E. Ketcham, April, 
1 890, who attended to the pastoral work of the charge until 
the coming of the Rev. Edwin A. Schell, October 19, 1890. 
The pulpit was supplied meanwhile by several eminent 
preachers of the denomination, among them Bishop An- 
drews and Dr. Upham. 

Rev. Edwin A. Schell was born at Logansport, Ind. 
Early in his boyhood his parents moved to Chicago. He is 
now in the thirtieth year of his age. He graduated at the 
Northwestern University, and also at Garrett Biblical Insti- 
tute. During his attendance at school he organized the 
Methodist Episcopal Church at Hammond. A church was 
erected, and became a strong charge. At the time of his 
admission to the Northwest Indiana Conference he was 
sent to South Bend, and with that charge he was connected 
for over four years. During that time he carried on and 
completed a post-graduate course of study in De Pauw Uni- 
versity, receiving the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 
(Ph. D.) He took the Kirk prize of $100 in oratory while 
in college. An oration of his, on " The Victorian Age," 
was printed in the volume entitled " A Decade of Oratory," 
issued by the University Press Company, Evanston, 111. 
He declined the presidency of a Western college last year. 
Rev. Dr. Schell preached his first sermon as pastor of the 
First Methodist Church on Sunday, October 19, 1890. 

Regarding Rev. Dr. Schell, the " South Bend (Ind.) 
Daily Tribune " says : " No minister ever came to South 
Bend so perfect a stranger and made so many friends as 
Mr. Schell. His personality has made him very popular as 
a man and citizen, while his popularity in the pulpit comes 
from his originality in the presentation of religious matters, 
his address, and his eloquence. Indiana has few pulpit 
orators that can equal Mr. Schell. As a preacher to chil- 
dren his ' little sermons ' to them as a prelude to the reg- 
ular church service will be greatly missed." 

Up to this writing (June 1, 1891) fifty-eight have been 
Teceived into the church during his pastorate. 

The present officers of the church are : 



88 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Presiding Elder, Rev. Abraham J. Palmer, D. D. 

Pastor, Rev. Edwin A. Schell, Ph. D. 

Local Elder, Rev. D. T. Macfarlan. 

Trustees, J. C. Havemeyer, J. E. Andrus, S. F. Quick, 
C. R. Leffingwell, J. B. Odell, John W. Oliver, B. S. Washl 
burn, Wm. M. Williams, S. T. Bell. 

Stewards, John Embree, A. Austin, Frank Connelly, 
C. R. Leffingwell, J. F. Vincent, Frank Wheeler, J. W. Oli- 
ver, W. F. Washburn, Franklin Ames, E. M. Yerks, Jr., J. 
A. M'Lachlin, Seymour Van Voorst. 

Sunday-school Superintendent, E. M. Yerks, Jr. 

Class Leaders, A. Austin, Th. Billings, H. N. Palma- 
tier, Theo. Terrell. 

The present membership — May, 1891 — of the church is 
380. Full members 360, probationers 20. 

The Ladies' Aid Society of the church was organized 
in January, 1884. Officers, 1890, Mrs. John W. Oliver, 
President ; Miss Marguerite Fones, Secretary ; and Mrs. 
Frank E. Wheeler, Treasurer. 

The Woman's Foreign and Woman's Home Missionary 
Societies were organized November, 1888. 

Officers of the Foreign Society, 1891 : Miss Helen S. 
Macfarlan, President ; Mrs. E. C. Paton, Secretary ; Miss 
Bertha Steele, Corresponding Secretary ; Mrs. D. T. Macfar- 
lan, Treasurer. 

Officers of Home Society, 1891 : Mrs. E. A. Schell, 
President ; Mrs. J. W. Goodale, Secretary ; Mrs. F. Keppel, 
Treasurer. 

The present organist and director of the quartette 
choir is William H. Hoppock ; Mrs. Charles D. Wyman, 
soprano ; Miss Clara Lee Mott, alto ; F. E. Hubbel, tenor ; 
John K. Myers, bass. 

The present organ was presented to the church in 
September, 1888, by Mrs. William F. Cochran. 

The present pulpit Bible and hymn-book were pre- 
sented by Mrs. S. F. Quick, July, 1888. 

The old church clock is placed in the chapel. George 
Senior has been sexton of the First Methodist Church 
for over twenty years. The ushers are Frank E. Wheeler, 
S. T. Bell, Edwin A. Oliver, and A. Austin. 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 89 

The sacrament of the Lord's Supper is celebrated in 
this church the first Sunday morning in each alternate 
month. 

The 92d annual session of the New York Conference 
was held in this church, April 1-8, 1891. Bishop Fitzgerald 
presided. The Conference was hospitably entertained by 
the citizens of the community irrespective of denomination, 
and on the adjournment of the session, resolutions of the 
most complimentary character to the church and community 
were adopted. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

In the old country schoolhouse where the first services 
of the church were held, the first Methodist Sunday-school 
of Yonkers was founded in the year 1826. 

The late Searing Howell, of Yonkers, was one of the 
pupils who attended this Sunday-school when it was held in 
the little schoolhouse, and his family relate the incident 
that when a very little fellow he fell asleep during meeting- 
time, and of his being aroused by the sonorous tones of the 
Methodist preacher, very much scared as he fell from the 
high wooden bench to the floor, which youthful episode 
was never effaced from his memory. This incident, so well 
remembered, fixes the date of the organization of the school 
as above stated. 

The first church edifice was erected in 1828. Into this 
building the Sunday-school entered in the autumn of 1828. 

The next date in the early history of this Sunday- 
school was in the year 1831. At that time Abby J. Odell 
(now the widow of the late Charles Belknap) and her sister, 
Sarah Odell (now the widow of Searing Howell), were 
pupils in the Sunday-school held in the old white meeting- 
house at half-past one o'clock in the afternoon. Subse- 
quently they, with their sister, became teachers in the 
school. 

The superintendent at that time was Frederic Shon- 
nard. The teachers, so far as can be ascertained, were Miss 
Alice S. Brown, Miss Charity Brown, Miss Rockwell, Miss 
Harriet Rockwell, Mrs. Pemberton, James D. Brown, Fred- 
erick Brown, and Mr. and Mrs. Frederic Shonnard. 



90 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The school then numbered between twenty-five and 
thirty-five children. The infant class of five was taught by 
Miss Abby J. Odell. She taught them their A, B, C's from 
the Bible, and they recited their Bible verses which they had 
committed to memory and which had been taught to them 
by their parents at home, and a question from the Church 
Catechism. A hymn or two was sung from the church 
hymn-book and the little class was dismissed to attend the 
afternoon church service, which was held after the dismis- 
sion of the school, at three o'clock. Such were the exercises 
and methods of teaching the little primitive infant class. 
There were no illustrated lesson charts, no attractive picture 
papers, no reward cards for punctual attendance, perfect 
lessons, and good deportment ; but with the well-earned 
commendation and parting words from their young teacher 
"that they had been good children and said their Bible 
verses and Catechism nicely," they bade her good-by until 
next Sunday. 

As the early records of this church and Sunday-school 
have been unfortunately lost, the later and following history 
of the school is obtained from the quarterly reports of the 
Sunday-school presented by the pastors of the church to the 
Methodist Conference. 

In the reports required by the Methodist Episcopal 
Church relative to the condition of their churches and Sun- 
day-schools occurs the following question : 

" Is there a written report from the pastor of the num- 
ber, state, and average attendance of the Sunday-school 
and Bible classes, and the extent to which he has preached 
to the children and catechised them ?" 

In many of the reports presented by the former pas- 
tors of this church to the Quarterly Conference we find that 
this question is answered briefly thus : " In part," or sim- 
ply in the affirmative. 

The following extracts, taken by permission from the 
Quarterly Record Book of this church, show the condition 
and growth of the church at different periods and under 
different pastors of the church. 

The first record of the Sunday-school contained in the 
" Quarterly Conference Record Book of the First Methodist 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 91 

Church of Yonkers to the New York Conference " is the 
following- : 

From the first Conference report presented by the pas- 
tor in charge, Rev. M. D, C. Crawford, D. D., is the follow- 
ing, August 17, 1867: The Sabbath-school is in a flourish- 
ing condition. The school is organized into a Missionary 
Society auxiliary to the General Missionary Society of our 
church. Average attendance of scholars, 177. 

Third quarterly report, November 16, 1867. — Average 
attendance, 1 70 ; officers and teachers, 36. 

February 29, 1868, the pastor reports to the Quarterly 
Conference : We have been and are hoping and praying for 
the conversion of the children, though as yet there are no 
clear indications of this great mercy. The school numbers 
children on record, 264; average attendance, 168; officers 
and teachers, 33 ; contributions to Sunday-school Union, 
$75 ; to Tract Society, $25 ; to Bible Society, $25. 

October 3, 1868. — Pastor reports to Conference: Aver- 
age attendance of scholars, 126; of teachers, 20. During 
the summer and until now the attendance has been smaller 
than formerly and the school has suffered for lack of faith- 
ful teachers. The Church Catechism has just been intro- 
duced into the school. 

The Sunday-school continued to increase in numbers 
so that the basement of the church was not large enough to 
accommodate the scholars, and it was removed to the audi- 
ence-room of the church in the autumn of 1868, which, with 
the gallery, it continued to occupy till June 6, 1886. 

March 27, 1869. — The Sabbath-school is prosperous and 
well conducted. Within a few weeks three of the interest- 
ing children of our infant class — Wilbur F. Lawrence, 
Fanny Quick, and Herbert Strickland — have been removed 
from the care of their loving parents to the fold of the 
Good Shepherd. The general condition of the school is 
encouraging. It has pleased God to refresh our church 
and Sunday-school, and some have been added to the 
church from the Sunday-school who give promise of great 
usefulness. 

In the year 1869 the superintendent of the Sunday- 
school was John W. Oliver, now editor of " The Yonkers 



92 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Statesman," who was formerly the superintendent for a 
number of years of the Sunday-school of the Trinity Meth- 
odist Church in New York city. Mr. Oliver gave his time 
and means freely to advance its interest. The pastor's 
family — his daughter and three sons — were among the 
officers and teachers of the school, and not a little of the 
prosperity of the school was due to their energy and faith- 
fulness. The social condition of the school at that time 
was very pleasant. 

At their anniversary, which was held at Radford Hall, 
Getty Square, on Friday evening, December 17, 1869, an 
admission fee was charged. 

The exercises began by singing "Life's Rosy 'Morn" 
by the school, and the opening prayer was offered by the 
pastor, Rev. Dr. Crawford. Recitations, dialogues, solos, 
and duets by members of the school followed. 

An address was delivered by Master Frank Simpson, 
entitled "Our Sunday-school Family," which was written 
by one of the officers of the school. In this address a 
rhyming description of the teachers was given. 

One of the recitations, entitled "Every Drop Helps," 
by Marian C. Burgess, was very pleasing. Another, " Peo- 
ple will Talk," by Hattie G. Post, was encored. A duet, 
" Angel Voices," was sweetly sung by Jules Coffin and 
Emma L. Oliver, daughter of the superintendent. 

The recitation, " One Thing at a Time," by Kitty Law- 
rence, and the dialogue, " I Want to Know the Reason," by 
Lucy Quick and Mary A. Smith, were well recited. 

The hymn " We are Coming " was beautifully sung by 
the school, after which a dialogue, " That Reminds Me of a 
Little Story," was given by James Paul, Ethelbert Embree, 
Matthew M. Johnston, Rufus P. Livermore, Thomas C. 
Oakley, and Edwin A. Oliver. 

The closing hymn was " The Friend Near and Dear." 
The exercises throughout were interesting and entertain- 
ing. 

The children were led in singing on this occasion by 
the Rev. Daniel T. Macfarlan, who for a number of years 
had charge of the singing of this school and always took a 
special delight and pains in training the children. He 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 93 

will always be remembered as the sweet singer of the 
school. 

There are only two persons connected with the school 
at this time who were then in it — Mrs. John Stelwagon 
(now Mrs. George Burgess), who was the female superin- 
tendent of the school then, and James B. Odell, who was its 
treasurer. 

Mrs. George Burgess has been connected with the 
school since the year 1854, and has been actively engaged 
in it, either as a teacher or officially, with the exception of 
a few years intervening between the date of her entrance 
to the present date, 1888. She is now assistant libra- 
rian, and as a Sunday-school worker is second on the 
" Roll of Honor " among the Sunday-school workers of 
Yonkers. 

The Christmas festival of 1869 is recalled as being an 
especially delightful occasion. In arranging for the festi- 
val, the officers and teachers of the school desired to pre- 
sent their honored pastor, Rev. Dr. M. D, C. Crawford, with 
some kindly token of recognition. After discussion it was 
concluded that the present should be $100 in greenbacks. 
Supervisor Jacob Read, in behalf of the members of the 
church, presented the gift, and the novel way in which the 
presentation was made will always be remembered by those 
who witnessed it. 

The report of the school under the pastorate of Rev. 
Frank Bottome, D. D., presented to Conference June 18, 
1870, is as follows : 

On entering my new charge I found a very carefully 
revised Church Register, which my excellent predecessor 
prepared with great circumspection and neatness. The 
Sabbath-school continues to prosper and remains much as 
per last report of my predecessor, but the basement of the 
church is deemed utterly unfit for the infant class. 

November 26, 1870. — The Church Improvement Soci- 
ety, which was started a few months ago, has been a deci- 
ded success. Our lack is most of all proper church and 
Sunday-school accommodations. We have not a single 
class-room, and our basement is the constant complaint of 
many, who declare that they cannot worship in it without 



94 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

detriment to their health. Yet this is the room in which 
the infant class meets on the Sabbath. 

A large and interesting young people's Bible-class is 
under the necessity of meeting in the choir gallery of the 
church and complains of the constant interruptions by the 
school in the open room below, while the exercises of the 
body of the school have frequently to be modified to accom- 
modate the Bible-class. 

June 21, 1873. — Dr. A. W. Lozier was appointed super- 
intendent by the pastor. 

The following is taken from a printed report of the 
school in the centennial year, April 1, 1876: 

" This school is at present in a very flourishing condi- 
tion and has during the past year made many additions to 
its ranks. Mr. S. C. Lusk, the superintendent, is an inde- 
fatigable worker and has the school in fine running order. 
Religious interest is manifested throughout the school and 
the best of order is maintained during the entire session. 
From among the smaller children there has been formed a 
band for religious exercises called ' The Dew-Drops.' This 
is in charge of Mrs. Chauncey Shaffer and Miss Harriet 
Seymour, and their meetings are held after the usual ses- 
sion of the school. On the third Sunday of each month are 
held mission exercises under the conductorship of Chaun- 
cey Shaffer, Esq. This school has four Bible-classes, the 
members of which take great interest in ' searching the 
Scriptures.' Following is the statistical exhibit of the 
school for the past year : 

"Officers, 9; teachers, 26; scholars on register, 237; 
average attendance, 190; largest attendance, 250 ; number in 
infant class, 30 ; conversions, 27 ; volumes in library, 450 ; 
receipts from all sources, $420 68 ; expenditures, $409 33 ; 
donated to missionary cause, $150; donated to church debt, 
$100. 

" The officers of this school are : S. C. Lusk, Superin- 
tendent ; Van Buren Clark, Assistant Superintendent ; J. 
Frank Hull, Treasurer ; Charles W. Wheeler and J. Henry 
Townsend, Librarians ; Mrs. M. Haviland Smith, Lady Su- 
perintendent ; Miss Amanda P. Carr, Secretary. The 
teachers are : Mrs. Chauncey Shaffer, Mrs. Anna Burgess, 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 9$ 

Mrs. James Waterloo, Mrs. George Thomas, Mrs. Seymour 
Van Vorst, Mrs. Tillie Smith, Miss Harriet Seymour, Miss 
Helen R. S. Macfarlan, Miss Ella McCord, Miss Mary 
Hughes, Miss Cora Mackrell, Miss Zelia Anderson, Miss 
Mary Dates, Miss Lizzie Walsh, Miss Christine Lewis, Miss 
Mary J. Haines, Miss Hattie Bennett, Miss Wordetia Light, 
Messrs. G. Herbert McCord, Alfred T. Serrell, Henry Ben- 
nett, Chauncey Shaffer, Hamlin and Van Buren Clark." 

Report of pastor in charge, Rev. Dr. L. H. King, July 
28, 1878: In the former report from Sabbath-school there 
were 197 ; now 221, showing an increase of 24. 

July 19, 1879. — Have the rules respecting the instruc- 
tion of the children been observed ? Answer — •" In part." 
Teachers, 29; scholars, 221 ; collected on Children's Day 
$10, and sent to the Board of Education. 

Report to the Church Conference by Rev. Delos Lull, 
June 15, 1880: — I found the Sunday-school in the hands of 
earnest, devoted workers. The usual effect of removal 
of families and change of teachers is now upon it. Efforts 
will be made to gather to our school especially the children 
of our own congregation, some of whom are attendants of 
other schools. Number of scholars, 200. 

November 15, 1880. — Sunday-school is in excellent con- 
dition under the skilful management of Brother C. V. Clark 
and his associates. There has been removed by death Mrs. 
Noble, an earnest and faithful teacher. 

January 6, 1 881. —The Sunday-school is in excellent 
condition. Number in infant class, 50 ; officers and teach- 
ers, 41 ; number of scholars, 200. I have preached twice to 
the children in the Conference year. 

June 14, 1 88 1. — A good proportion of the scholars in 
this school at this time are over fifteen years of age. I have 
preached to the children twice during the past quarter. 
The superintendent and associates are thorough in their 
work. 

October 6, 1881. — The Sunday-school connected with 
this church has been unusually well attended for the season. 
Notwithstanding the summer and autumn heat and consid- 
erable disappointment felt by the children of this school 
occasioned by a failure of plans for a picnic excursion, there 



g6 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

has been no abatement of interest or decrease in numbers. 
It is my conviction that our school should be maintained 
without depending on external and sensational methods. 

Dr. Edgar M. Hermance taught a large Bible-class 
numbering thirty young men and women. This class met 
for five years from 1880 to 1885 in the west wing of the 
church, which at one time was occupied by the organ and 
choir. Many of the pupils of that class are now heads of 
families and recall with grateful appreciation his faithful 
and practical instruction. 

The report of the pastor, Rev. William E. Ketcham, to 
the Quarterly Conference, May 30, 1883, says: We have one 
Sunday-school. It is in charge of an able superintendent 
and is doing faithful work. It has a worthy record and is 
capable of great efficiency. The average attendance is 
about 230. I have given five-minute sermons to the chil- 
dren nearly every Sabbath since, among this people. Some 
of the children have been received to full communion of 
the church. 

February 15, 1884. — Our Sunday-school is an arm of 
great strength to this church. Its work is going forward 
grandly. Those engaged in this department are among 
our most devoted and earnest members. Much money 
is raised for missionary purposes by our Sunday-school 
missionary society. The average attendance is 240. More 
room is required by the Sunday-school than is possible 
to furnish in the old church. I think our Sunday-school 
could be relied upon to assist in any movement looking 
towards more and ample quarters. 

July 10, 1884. — Amid the competition of several schools 
in this city we stand at great disadvantage. The very at- 
tractive Sabbath-school rooms of no less than five different 
churches— within a stone's throw of ours — have very potent 
influence to make drafts upon our own. The children are 
easily captivated by the neat, tidy, and winning features of 
the room in which they study and worship. The illumina- 
ted maps, the brilliant mottoes, ample library rooms, the 
attractive parlors, so well and tastefully furnished, are mag- 
nets of no ordinary power to draw the children thereto. 

Our sixty infant-class children assemble from Sabbath to 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 97 

Sabbath and are compelled to occupy the dingy basement, 
where a mixture of stovepipe and furnaces greets their eyes. 
These children offer no indifferent plea for better accom- 
modations. We find our school ardent with love to missions, 
and to their honor, be it said they raise from $20 to $30 per 
month for six months of the year for our General Missionary 
Society. 

A conviction at present prevails that the school would 
be justified, in view of the home needs, to launch itself upon 
the work of gathering funds for our new church and for the 
time being give less to the General Missionary Society. It 
is worthy of note that with heartiness the school celebrated 
Children's Day, June 8, and received benefit and instruc- 
tion by the addresses of Brothers Andrew E. Lemngwell 
and Myron T. Scudder. A collection from the children for 
the fund of the Board of Education amounted to §66. 

The Methodist Catechism is knocking at the door of 
our school, and we speak for it an early welcome. 

March 13, 1885. — Our Sunday-school has maintained a 
very excellent and marked degree of prosperity during the 
Conference year just closing. The officers have been faith- 
ful and have given much time and attention to the work of 
the school. The teachers have shown diligence and inter- 
est in their work. 

Our infant class is large and promising, although com- 
pelled to hold its session in our unpromising lecture-room, 
where no maps, etc., are to be found, so needful to aid in 
study and to compete with neighboring schools. New and 
valuable accessions have been secured during the year. 

The missionary interest of our school increases and 
missionary days are occasions of real delight. Contribu- 
tions are taken monthly with the explicit understanding 
that for six months of the year the offerings are for the 
General Missionary Society, and for the remaining six 
months of the year for the running expenses of the school. 
The plan works well. 

We are inclined to the thought, which is becoming a 
conviction, that the Sunday-school may be made an all-im- 
portant factor in aiding the new church enterprise, which it 
is expected will be launched soon with the most flattering 

Church and Sunday-school Work. 7 



98 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

prospect of success. The only regret we cherish in sur- 
veying the secular work of the school is the failure to hold 
with regularity, every month, a teachers' meeting for the 
transaction of the many items of business needful for the 
higher success of their Sabbath-school work. 

We have no classes formed for religious instruction 
other than the Sabbath classes. Number of scholars in 
school, 240 ; teachers and officers, 59 ; scholars over fifteen 
years of age, 140 ; infant class, 60. 

June 19, 1885. — The school maintains its accustomed 
vigor and promises well for the future. A new departure 
is giving additional attention to the monthly teachers' 
meeting. To reason and plan for the highest good of the 
school augurs well for new interest during the year. An 
effort is now being made to introduce the much neglected 
catechism into the school. 

The Children's Day exercises were attractive and ren- 
dered very popular. The school assembled in the evening 
and sang with remarkable power. Two addresses were 
made, one by Brother C. R. Leffingwell, of our own church, 
and the other by W. W. Law, of the First Presbyterian 
Church of Yonkers. The addresses and singing, as well as 
the tasteful and abundant floral display, merited and re- 
ceived very hearty appreciation. 

The old story of limited accommodation for the school 
need not be repeated, but a better church for such pur- 
poses is soon to be reached. There are in the records of 
the Sunday-school many items which indicate a deep inter- 
est in the new church enterprise. 

In the spring of 1879 Messrs. Bloomer & Co. opened a 
shirt manufactory and laundry in the building now owned 
by the Yonkers Railroad Company, corner Main Street and 
Buena Vista Avenue. They brought with them a number 
of Chinamen to assist in their work. An effort was made 
by two teachers of the Westminster Sunday-school to bring 
the Chinese into that school, which was partially success- 
ful ; but their final preference was given to the Methodist 
Sunday-school, and to this school is accorded the honor of 
taking the lead in the noble work of giving the gospel to 
the Chinese who have come to our shores. 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 99 

Rooms were hired by these Chinamen in Mr. Bloom- 
er's building, and it soon became known as the " Chinese 
headquarters" in Yonkers. Here they slept and ate their 
meals and spent their evenings in playing cards and in 
other amusements. Their Sundays were spent very much 
in the way they had been accustomed in their native land. 
They had their idols with all the paraphernalia of heathen 
worship, and so far as they were able they were true and 
devout heathen worshippers, 

A young boy, a clerk in one of the stores in the city, 
was sent on errands by his employers to the proprietor of 
the factory. While waiting to be attended to he talked 
with these Chinamen about their work and became very 
much interested in them. This interest was reciprocated, 
and one day he asked one of them if he would like to go to 
Sunday-school, and said, " My father has a class in Sunday- 
school. Would you like to come to it?" 

The Chinaman replied eagerly, " Yesee, velly muchee." 

George went home and said, " Father, will you take a 
Chinaman in your class next Sunday ?" His father con- 
sented. The next Sunday George, accompanied by his 
father, went down to the Chinese headquarters to show the 
Chinaman the way to school and to protect him from the 
attacks of the street Arabs who persecuted him. 

This custom was kept up for several Sundays, until 
the new scholar was able to come alone unaccompanied by 
his bodyguard. Then the new scholar, Fred Coon, brought 
one of his associates, Lew To Gow by name. These two 
became inseparable companions, and could often be seen, 
with their little primers under their arms, wending their 
way to the Sunday-school. 

But these two youthful Chinamen were not without 
their trials in their new enterprise. More than once they 
were accosted by rude boys, who stood on the street corners 
and shouted out as they passed, " Halloa, heathen Chinee, 
how much will you take for your pigtail?" Once a dead 
rat was thrown in their way with a rude remark. But they 
passed on with a calm dignity as though they heard them 
not. 

The next Sunday they were accompanied by a third, 



IOO CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Fred Coon acting as their interpreter. November 2d of 
the same year their number increased to seven, and the 
next Sunday to twelve. 

At that time Mr. Terrell had rather an unruly class of 
boys. Thinking that perhaps another person could man- 
age and instruct them better than he, Mr. Terrell gave up 
his class and turned his attention to the twelve Chinamen, 
who were always attentive, obedient, and very respectful 
in their conduct. It was truly a turning to the Gentiles. 

Mr. Terrell found that he had more scholars than he 
could attend to and was very much perplexed to know 
what to do. They were, as he said, like an " elephant on 
his hands." They were so earnest and eager for instruc- 
tion, and knew so little of the English language, it seemed 
a necessity that each one should have a teacher. 

An appeal was made to the superintendent, Mr. V. B. 
Clark, and it was partially successful. Yet more teachers 
were needed and a second appeal was made, when Miss 
Carrie W. Rehorn, now a teacher in the girls' department 
of the High School in Yonkers, responded and brought 
with her several of her associate teachers. Then the work 
began in earnest, and the gallery in the old church was set 
apart for their use and was called the Chinese department 
of the school. 

A few weeks afterwards a gentleman from Boston 
addressed the school, after which he spoke with Mr. Ter- 
rell about his work. Mr. Terrell told him of his perplexi- 
ties and difficulties, and of his desire that the work might 
be carried on more successfully. This gentleman directed 
him to a lady who was a member of Rev. Dr. Howard 
Crosby's Church in New York, and who had been for sev- 
eral years a very successful teacher among the Chinese 
and had an evening school in White Street, New York. 
He thought she could solve his difficulties for him and give 
him many useful and helpful hints about the work. 

Mr. Terrell visited Miss Goodrich's school several 
times and obtained much benefit from her methods of 
teaching. Miss Goodrich passed from earth to heaven a 
few years ago, leaving a bright and enduring record of her 
work. By Miss Goodrich's advice Mr. Terrell bought Chi- 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. IOI 

nese primers and Testaments from the American Tract So- 
ciety, New York, and found them very useful in his work. 

Lew To Gow's instructor was Mrs. John P. Ostrander, 
who labored faithfully and prayerfully for his conversion, 
and under her careful instruction he became a Christian. 
A few years ago he died a happy Christian death in San 
Francisco, where he had gone hoping to regain his health. 
Another one of his class, Haw Ling, was baptized into the 
fellowship of the Baptist Church in North Adams, Mass., 
and became a useful member of that Society. Fred Coon, 
Chumbag Ham Dock, Ching Tong Goung, Ching Gow 
Goung, and Lau Jone became communicants of the First 
Methodist Church. 

"February 4, 1880, the Chinese celebrated their New 
Year on Monday. It was a very joyous occasion and the 
festivities lasted for several days. Many of the Sunday- 
school teachers and their friends were present, and the 
affair wound up with a firing off of 50,000 fire-crackers, 
which had been imported for this purpose. " 

In June, 1881, their beloved superintendent, Theodore 
Terrell, left the city, as his business called him elsewhere. 
For a time Fred Coon acted in this capacity, and then Mrs. 
Catherine B. Sing (widow of the late Rev. Charles Sing), 
took charge of them. She has a deep interest in them and 
has kept up a correspondence with many of them who have 
left Yonkers. She has received many interesting letters 
from them, full of touching words and thankful acknowl- 
edgment for her untiring efforts in their behalf. 

The Chinese have always been very grateful for what 
has been done for them, and show their appreciation by 
beautiful gifts to their teachers. They are also very be- 
nevolent and not unfrequently are the banner class, their 
monthly contributions being the largest in the school. 
One year they contributed $65 for missionary purposes, 
and once a larger sum. 

In the Methodist Church Conference of New York 
there is but one other school that has a Chinese depart- 
ment connected with it. In regard to the results of their 
religious instruction received in the Yonkers school the 
following letter testifies : 



102 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

" Yonkers, N. Y., Oct. 6, 1884. 

" Mr. Theodore Terrell — Dear Sir : I will write you 
a few lines and let you know I intend started for China on 
the 27th of this month. I thought I come over see you, 
and all the other friends what I know them from Yonkers, 
and bid them good-by before I gone back to China, but 
instead I write this letter. I hope I see you again when I 
come back, and will tell you how glad I am in America, and 
how thankful to our Saviour Jesus, who bids you and all 
the dear Yonkers friends to help the heathen Chinese into 
His righteous ways from darkness. 

" When I reach China I will not go back to worship 
idols any more, but I shall showly tell all my friends in 
China about the Mighty Father in Heaven who gave his 
only-begotten Son, our Saviour Jesus, to redeem the world 
from our sins and that whosoever believe in Him ' should 
not perish but have everlasting life.' 

" I also bring my teachers' and friends' photographs 
and show it to them and tell them what kind of people I 
know in America, that teach us the right ways like brothers 
or sisters. Dear brother, pray for us all. May the Lord 
hear your prayers and answer .to them. I will close my 
letter and go up to Miss C. W. Rehorn's house for my les- 
son. 

" My dear brother, give my kind regards to all my 
friends what I know, 

" Your friend, 

Rev. Mr. Ketcham in his report to the New York Con- 
ference says : " The Chinese department connected with 
this school is somewhat novel, but useful as an educational 
power." 

Again in his report of June 19, 1885, he says: "The 
Chinese department is still an important feature in our 
school. We have, ranging from fifteen to twenty China- 
men, careful and earnest students, under the direction of 
Mrs. Catherine B. Sing and a band of faithful teachers. 
Recently another of that class, with sincere desire to accept 
Christian faith and teaching, after a critical examination 
touching the leading doctrines of Christianity, abandoned 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 103 

for ever his former faith in idols and accepted Christianity 
and was received by baptism into our fold. The event will 
ever be remembered by those who were witnesses of it. 
Mrs. Sing stood with our brother from the far East as he 
took the vows of God upon him and accepted the name 
of a distinguished layman, and was baptized in the faith of 
the Lord Jesus." 

The names of the pupils in the Chinese department 
in 1887 were as follows : Fred Coon, Ching Goon, Lee Dick, 
Chung Jan, Chung Tong, Lau Poo, B. Chung, Chung Wong, 
Chung Song, Chung Jang, Chung Yon, Lau H. Jone, Lee 
Wing, Chung On, Ah Ching, Yon H. Quong, Yong Gine, 
Yot Sing, and Chung Hing. 

The teachers in the Chinese department were : Mrs. 
Catherine B. Sing, Superintendent ; Theodore Terrell, Mrs. 
Terrell, Miss Eva Mackrell, Miss Rehorn, Mrs. Owen Van 
Winkle, Miss McMahon, Miss Pagan, Mrs. Yerks, Miss Net- 
tie Brown, Miss C. B. Cronk, Miss Mary Delamater, Miss 
Campbell, Miss I. Vincent, Mrs. Miiller, Miss Harriet Sey- 
mour, Mrs. Ames, Mrs. Fowler, Miss Stella Pearsall, and 
Miss Susie Pearsall. 

The department meets in the northwest class-room, 
over the room occupied by the primary department. It is 
attractively furnished with small square tables, with pretty 
covers of various designs, and a Mason and Hamlin organ. 
Scripture mottoes, Chinese banners, and other foreign orna- 
mentations adorn the walls. Mrs. C. B. Sing continues the 
faithful and zealous superintendent, who with her efficient 
corps of teachers are earnest and devoted in their efforts in 
teaching their pupils the way of life. 

The department numbers twenty -two pupils. The 
present teachers, April, 1890, are Mrs. Catherine Andrews, 
Mrs. John H. Brown, Mrs. Elizabeth Steele, Mrs. Ames, 
Mrs. Van Winkle, Mrs. Alex. O. Kirkwood, Mrs. Lucy 
Wheeler, Mrs. Minnie Hogel, Miss C. Cronk, Miss Edith 
Pagan, Miss Ella Quick, Miss Mary Delamater, Miss Blake- 
more, Miss Libbie Smith, Miss Mary McMahon, Miss Em- 
ma Smith, Mr. Robert O. Kirkwood, Allan S. Kirkwood, 
Miss Harriet Seymour, and Jennie O. Kirkwood. 

The last session of the Sunday-school in the old church 



104 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

building was held at two o'clock in the afternoon, the inter- 
esting feature of this occasion being the bringing in of the 
Sunday-school barrels which contained the contributions to 
the building fund of the new church, earned by the children 
and collected from others towards this object. 

These little barrels were about three inches in height 
and were numbered, the number corresponding to each 
scholar's name. They bore this inscription : " Sunday- 
school Offering for our New Church. First Methodist 
Episcopal, Yonkers, N. Y." 

After the opening exercises of the school the barrels 
were collected in a large basket and carried into the par- 
sonage adjoining the church. The secretary, Mr. F. H. 
Connolly, assisted by Mr. Seymour Van Vorst and one of 
the teachers of the school, opened the barrels and counted 
their contents, which consisted of coppers, dimes, and dol- 
lars. The amounts in the barrels ranged from fifty cents 
to twelve dollars. 

In one of these tiny barrels, collected from the Chinese 
department, was found a copper coin, the value of which 
was equal to one cent of U. S. money. This coin was pur- 
chased by a member of the school for twenty-five cents as a 
memento of the occasion. After the amount had been 
ascertained — which was $450 — it was carried into the school 
and put into the hands of the pastor, Rev. W. E. Ketcham, 
who congratulated the children on the successful result of 
their efforts, which he had suggested to them, and the joy 
and enthusiasm were participated in by all. It was truly a 
jubilee day. 

The following Sunday, June 14, 1886, the school assem- 
bled in the old Sunday-school room of the First Presby- 
terian Church, which had been kindly tendered to them by 
the Board of Trustees of that church until their new chapel 
was ready for occupancy. 

The school continued to meet there until they entered 
their new chapel in the fall of 1887. Although there were 
some disadvantages and inconveniences occasioned by their 
removal from their own church home, and the summer 
season of that year was peculiarly trying, yet there was 
no diminution in its numbers nor flagging of interest. 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 105 

This was in no small degree owing to the faithful and 
punctual attendance of both officers and teachers. And 
thus the school was brought successfully through this criti- 
cal period of its history. The fifteen months which the 
school spent under the sheltering roof of the First Presby- 
terian Church are filled with pleasant memories. 

The chapel adjoining their new church edifice being- 
completed, the Sunday-school held their first session there 
October 23, 1887. 

The exercises of the Sunday-school beg'an at 2:30 
o'clock with the reading of a selection of Scripture by 
Abram Austin, the superintendent, followed by a respon- 
sive reading of the lesson for the day, which was from the 
Gospel of St. Matthew, 9: 18-21. The school then united 
in singing, with heart and soul, the hymn entitled " Bring- 
ing in the Sheaves," which hymn is a great favorite with 
the members of the Chinese department of the school. 
The pastor of the church, Rev. Dr. Strobridge, then led 
them in a tender, earnest prayer, full of thanksgiving and 
petitions for a present blessing to rest upon all assembled, 
and for a continuance of the blessing upon the future work 
of the school. The hymn " The Water of Life," from the 
school hymn-book, the " Gem of Gems," was then sung. 
The singing was led by Frederick Hubbell, and Winfield S. 
Soeteman presided at the organ. The school sustained 
their reputation for good singing in this hymn as in all 
those sung on this occasion. 

Then the lesson of the day was taken up, at the close 
of which the school was called to order, which took just 
one minute and a half, by the superintendent's watch, as 
was announced. At the request of the superintendent 
the scholars recited in concert the memory texts of the 
lesson. This was followed by the recitation of the golden 
text, which was beautifully and distinctly given by the 
little ones. 

Dr. Strobridge then suggested that a vote of thanks 
be given to the Sunday-school of the First Presbyterian 
Church of this city for the use of the room in their church 
building, which they had occupied for the past fifteen 
months free of charge. This suggestion was responded 



106 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

to with a unanimous and hearty ay from the members of 
the school. 

He also stated that this vote of thanks was from the 
Sunday-school children to the Sunday-school of the First 
Presbyterian Church and a written vote of thanks would 
be sent by the teachers and officers of this school, to be 
given at the next monthly teachers' meeting. 

In concluding his address Dr. Strobridge said : 

" Now what of the future of this school ? What are we 
going to do with these new opportunities, these rich and 
grand privileges, and this beautiful Sunday-school room? 
Let us begin the work of the school with a boom. And 
how shall we boom this school? First fill it with new 
scholars. How shall we do that? Let us begin in this 
way, on the one boy and one girl plan — that is, each boy 
and each girl promise this : ' I will bring one new pupil 
into this school next Sunday.' Let each one present en- 
deavor to do this. 

" And, secondly, let us begin a new dispensation, a new 
economy. But these are theological terms. Let us say 
instead a new beginning, and you will all understand. And 
this second boom is to make a new beginning in the matter 
of preparing the lesson. Let all study the lesson, and not 
depend upon the teachers to make the lesson interesting to 
you. Do your part to make it so. 

" Now for a motto for this new room for you to think 
about all the year and in the coming years : ' According to 
your faith be it unto you,' which is in substance this : If 
you do a thing, believe in it and you will strive for it. All 
hail then and welcome to you all in this beautiful new 
room. Pray and work for the prosperity of this school." 

The superintendent followed in a few brief remarks, 
fully indorsing all that the pastor had said, and concluding 
with, " Now let us try to show our faith by our works." 

The school then arose and repeated the Apostles' Creed 
in concert, the closing hymn, " The New Song," was sung, 
and they were dismissed with the benediction by Dr. Stro- 
bridge. Thus ended the exercises of the school on the 
first day in their new schoolroom. It was a day long to be 
remembered with pleasurable emotions. 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. loy 

The audience-room of this new chapel is very attract- 
ive. The walls are of terra cotta tint and the ceiling a 
beautiful soft tint of green. The windows are of opalescent 
glass and the woodwork of .finely finished maple. 

The seating capacity of the audience-room is three 
hundred, which does not include the class-room at the south 
end, nor the two Bible-class rooms at the northwest end. 
There are two other class-rooms above these. The library 
room, on the right of the audience-room, is pleasant, and 
has all the appointments necessary for conducting the work 
of the school. 

It was a merry company which assembled at the 
Christmas celebration' of the Sunday-school of the First 
Methodist Church, held in the First Presbyterian Church, 
December, 1886. There were two Christmas-trees, and 
every child received a book, a box of candy, and an orange. 

Superintendent A. Austin presided, and received a 
special present of a set of the People's Cyclopaedia from the 
teachers of the school. Miss M. Hodges directed the 
music. 

Abram Austin was elected superintendent in January, 
1886. His natural and marked executive ability and inde- 
fatigable perseverance were exhibited in his management 
of the school, and under his superintendency it increased in 
numbers and prosperity. He introduced the system of 
rewards — a reward being given to the scholar who had 
been punctual and faithful in his attendance and perfect 
in the commital of the school lesson and Scripture verses 
during the year. 

The reward was either a beautiful and well-bound copy 
of the Bible, a Methodist hymn-book, or any other book 
which the scholar might choose, provided the price did not 
exceed a certain sum. This system proved a success. 

The school held their Christmas celebration of 1887 i n 
the chapel of their new church on Monday evening, De- 
cember 26. Rev. Charles E. Allison, pastor of the Day- 
spring Church, interested the children with one of his 
characteristic and entertaining talks. Their pastor, Rev. 
Dr. Strobridge, also spoke a few words to them, after which 
came the distribution of the Christmas gifts, which con- 



108 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

sisted of books for the older members of the school ; and 
cornucopias of candy, oranges, and attractive picture books 
from a beautiful Christmas-tree were given to the children 
in the Primary Department. A beautifully illustrated book 
entitled " The Story of the Bible " was given to each mem- 
ber of the Chinese department by their superintendent, 
Mrs. Catherine B. Sing. The Christmas carols entitled 
" We Hail Thee Once Again," " The Coming of the King," 
and the " Music of the Christmas Bells," sung by the school, 
added to the interest of the occasion. 

During the fall of 1889 George D. Mackay, the Presi- 
dent of the Young Men's Christian Association of Yonkers, 
delivered a series of " Pictorial Bible Readings." He was 
assisted by Rev. John Kershaw, the pastor of a Brooklyn 
Mission Church, who operated the stereopticon and assisted 
in the prayer and inquiry meeting always held after the 
close of the readings. 

The subjects of the illustrations were Bible naratives in 
the life of Christ. The pictures exhibited were procured at 
no small expense by Mr. Mackay, and were from some of 
the greatest paintings of ancient and modern times. There 
were two views of " Christ entering Jerusalem," by Selous 
and Dubufe, " The Widow's Mite," by Barrias, " The Rich 
Young Ruler," by Lejeune, " Christ Healing the Sick in the 
Temple," by Benjamin West. Other views were : " The 
Raising of Lazarus," " Healing the Woman with the In- 
firmity," "Christ Eating with the Publicans," and the " Re- 
storing of Sight to Bartimseus," Durand's marvellous pic- 
ture of the secret watch of the procession of Christ on his 
way to Calvary, Munkacsy's " Christ Before Pilate," Ru- 
ben's " Descent from the Cross." Plockhort's " Rabboni " 
was truly a heavenly vision, and one seemed to be en- 
tranced and enchained with the surprised and enraptured 
Mary. 

Robert's "To Emmaus " was a powerful representation 
of a scene that the imagination might scarcely venture 
to picture, much less the hand presume to portray. 

There were five pictures by the fertile and expressive 
pencil of Bida — " The Women Bringing the Spices," " Mary 
Coming to the Tomb," "Jesus and the Ten," "Have Ye 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. IO9 

Any Meat?" and Peter springing into the water and swim- 
ming ashore. 

Thompson's " Easter Dawn " floated into the vision 
to stay and inspire. The affecting picture of " Thomas 
Convinced " was admirably reproduced, and Gleyre's " As- 
cension " outshone the original copy. This scene closed the 
instructive and profitable exhibition of Bible pictures. 

At the close of each lecture there was thrown upon the 
screen the words of Matthew 32:33, emphasizing the lesson 
therein contained, and followed with the pledge : " I ac- 
knowledge that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus Christ 
came into the world to save sinners. I accept Jesus Christ 
as my Saviour and Master. And I ask the Lord's people 
to pray with me that I may be kept faithful." Small slips 
were printed with this pledge and rules for beginners in 
Christian life on them, together with passages showing the 
authority for both pledge and rules, and at the end of each 
lecture, signatures to the pledges were requested. This 
course of Bible-readings resulted in forty-four accessions to 
the membership of this and other churches in Yonkers. 
The course was also delivered at the Immanuel Mission 
Chapel of the First Presbyterian Church of Yonkers with 
good results. 

The Christmas Festival of 1889 was held in the chapel. 
W. H. Hoppock, the church organist, gave some brilliant 
music before the exercises began, and he also accompanied 
the school upon the instrument. Charles R. Leffingwell, 
the superintendent, conducted the exercises. 

George D. Mackay made a very pleasing address, 
during which he related a Christmas legend ; and Rev. Dr. 
Strobridge had some happy words to say, and said them 
happily. Each scholar was made the recipient of a handsome 
book and a basket of delicacies. Superintendent Lefflngwell 
received a large and beautiful book from the school : and 
Assistant Superintendent Theodore Terrell became the 
owner of a very handsome volume, the gift of his superior 
officer. Elijah M. Yerks was honored publicly by his large 
Bible-class, and there were other presentations, of a quiet 
order, between the teachers and their classes. 

A teachers' meeting is held monthly for the purpose of 



IIO CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

consultation in regard to plans and methods used and re- 
quired for carrying forward the work of the school, the 
presentation of reports of work done during the month, and 
for the transaction of any other business relative to the 
school. These meetings are well attended and successful 
in their results. 

The school is self-supporting and contributes to the 
missionary fund of the church about $150 annually. Month- 
ly missionary meetings are held, and to the class which 
contributes the largest amount the Sunday-school mission- 
ary banner is given, to be kept for a month or a longer 
period, provided the contributions of said class are the 
largest for that month. This class is known as the " Ban- 
ner Class." 

The school has two banners — one of crimson silk with 
gold fringe, the other of blue silk, on each of which is in- 
scribed in golden letters, " First Methodist Sunday-school 
Banner Class," and "No. 1" and "No. 2" respectively. 
Not unf requently is the first banner won and held for more 
than a month by the Chinese department. The school has 
also a Birthday-Box. 

The Young Men's Association connected with this 
Church and Sunday-school was organized in 1882 by Rev. 
Delos Lull. In 1883 it became the " Young People's Associ- 
ation," President, Abram Austin ; F. H. Connolly, Secretary ; 
George Christian, Treasurer. From this Association was 
formed the Christian Endeavor Society in February, 1889. 
This society is now called the Epworth League. Its officers, 
January, 1890, are James McLachlan, President; Clarence 
Pearsall, Vice-President ; William H. Schultz, Secretary ; and 
Miss Ella Lawrence, Treasurer. The membership is eighty. 

The primary department in 1887 was in charge of Miss 
Amanda Carr, assisted by Miss Minnie Hodges, and num- 
bered between fifty and sixty scholars. 

The superintendent of the department is Mrs. Eleanor 
E. Paton, who is ably assisted by Mrs. Bertha Miiller and 
Mrs. Wilcox. 

The Methodist Catechism with the lesson is taught in 
this department. By means of interesting Scripture selec- 
tions, with word picture illustrations by the teacher, doc- 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. Ill 

trinal truth is made plain and attractive to the little ones. 
The illustrated " Berean Leaf Cluster " is also used, and 
" The Picture Lesson Paper," with Scripture picture cards 
for punctuality and deportment. Present number of pupils 
is fifty. 

The class-room at the south end of the main room is 
occupied by the large Bible-class of young women, num- 
bering thirty, which is taught by Miss Carrie W. Rehorn. 

There are also two other advanced Bible-classes con- 
nected with the school, which are taught by E. Yerks and 
Abram Austin. The former is composed of young men 
and the latter of young women. 

Sixteen pupils from this school during the year 1887 
were received into the full communion of the church. 

The officers of the school in 1887 were : Abram Austin, 
Superintendent ; Elijah Yerks, Assistant Superintendent ; 
C. R. Lemngwell, Treasurer ; F. H. Connolly, Secretary ; 
Miss Carrie W. Rehorn, first Woman Superintendent ; Miss 
Amanda Carr, second Woman Superintendent; Mrs. C. B. 
Sing, Superintendent of Chinese department ; Fred. Hub- 
bell, Organist ; W. B. Sing, Librarian ; Mrs. George Bur- 
gess, first Assistant Librarian ; Harvey Chase, second 
Assistant Librarian. 

The teachers were : Mr. Palmateer, Miss Rehorn, Mrs. 
Andrus, Mrs. A. Austin, Miss Chadburn, Mrs. Devoe, Mrs. 
Archibald, Miss Ella Lawrence, Miss Kitty Lawrence, Miss 
Mary Calahan. Miss Ida Pollock, Miss Rennie Kenworthy, 
Miss Georgie Haines, Miss Emma Chadeayne, Miss Gor- 
man, Miss Emma Shaler, Miss Miriam Burgess, Miss Heath- 
er, Miss Steele, Miss Fones, Miss Alma Embree, Miss Eva 
Chadburn, Miss Minnie Hodges, Miss Strobridge, Miss 
Amanda Carr, David Burgess, George Craven, George Odell, 
J. B. Odell, and Elijah Yerks. 

The school numbered 270 scholars. 

Mr. Austin resigned the superintendency of the school 
in March, 1888, and was succeeded by Charles R. Leffing- 
well. 

In June, 1888, the service on " Children's Day" was 
held in the church. The programme carried out was that 
prepared by Dr. Payne and Miss Baldwin for the Board of 



112 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Education of the Methodist Church. W. H. Hoppock pre- 
sided at the organ, and Mr. Poindexter, the precentor, 
directed the children in singing. Superintendent Leffing- 
well led in the responsive reading. Dr. Strobridge made a 
fine address. The floral decorations were very beautiful. 

The Christmas festival of 1889 attracted all the schol- 
ars and a large number of friends to the church in which it 
was held. A well-arranged programme of recitations and 
singing of carols was carried out in a charming manner. 
A fine Christmas-tree, resplendent in its dress of gifts and 
lights, stood on the platform, the admiration of the chiL 
dren. 

The patriotism of the school was shown in the late 
civil war, when five of its members went out from it to 
engage in the defence of our country, namely, John For- 
syth, Alonzo Craw, James Duff, James H. Hanny, and 
James Beasley. 

The lesson helps used by this school are the " Sunday- 
school Journal," edited by Rev. J. H. Vincent, D. D., and 
the " Berean Leaf." In the primary department is used 
the illustrated " Berean Leaf Cluster " by the same author, 
and the Picture Lesson Paper published by Phillips & 
Hunt. The Sunday-school hymn-book is the " Epworth 
Hymnal." The number of books in the library is 651. A 
new library is to be purchased for the school. 

The Children's Mission Band was organized January, 
1889, an d raised for " Pawhuska Home," Indian Territory, 
$40. Its officers, January, 1 890, were : Mrs. Hattie Terrell, 
President ; Miss Bertha Steele, Secretary ; Master Robert 
Strobridge, Treasurer. Its membership was sixty. 

This school has always taken a prominent and decided 
stand in the temperance cause, and a number of its officers 
and teachers are actively engaged in the temperance work. 
Mrs. Merritt H. Smith, who for many years was the teacher 
of a large adult Bible-class of the school, was the first pres- 
ident of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of 
Yonkers, and continued so to be for a number of years and 
until her removal from the city. 

A former secretary of the school, F. H. Connolly, or- 
ganized the order of " Good Templars " in Yonkers. Many 



THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 113 

of its pupils are members of trie Band of Hope of the 
Woman's Christian Temperance Union. 

The present (January, 1891) number of scholars of all 
ages is 320. 

The officers of the missionary society of the school 
are : Theodore Terrell, President ; Frank H. Connolly, 
Vice-President ; Clarence A. Pearsall, Secretary and Treas- 
urer. 

The additions to the communion of the church from 
this Sunday-school in the past years of its history, have 
been very many. These persons have in turn been instru- 
mental in leading others into the enjoyment of the same 
blessings and privileges with themselves in connection 
with the church, and many have gone out from this school 
who are now filling positions of usefulness in the world. 

Rev. John G. Oakley, Ph. D., pastor of the Thirteenth 
Street Methodist Church, New York city, who received 
the honorary degree of doctor of divinity from the Grant 
Memorial University, June, 1889, was a member of this 
school, and Rev. Edwin T. Brush who entered upon his 
duties as pastor of the Methodist church at Fremont, 
Chester County, Pa., April, 1890. 

The superintendents, so far as can be ascertained, 
have been : Frederic Shonnard, the first superintendent as 
far back as 1826; Garret Norton, Daniel Blauvelt, 1 861-2; 
Rev. Daniel T. Macfarlan, 1863-4 ; John W. Oliver, 1867-70; 
Rev. D. T. Macfarlan, 1871-2; Dr. A. W. Lozier, 1873-4; S. 
C. Lusk, 1875-6 ; V. B. Clark, 1877-85 (Edwin A. Oliver was 
acting superintendent for a brief period during the absence 
of Mr. V. B. Clark in 1886); Abram Austin, 1886-8; and 
Charles R. Leffingwell, elected March, 1888-90. 

The officers of the school, January, 1890, were : C. R. 
Leffingwell, Superintendent; Theodore Terrell, Assistant 
Superintendent; Mrs. C. B. Sing, first Assistant Lady Su- 
perintendent ; Miss Carrie W. Rehorn, second Assistant 
Lady Superintendent ; James A. McLachlan, Secretary ; 
Stephen Bell, Treasurer ; William Vincent, Librarian ; 
Charles Hall, Assistant Librarian. 

The annual meeting of the Sunday-school Board of the 
First Methodist Church was held in the chapel .on Monday 

Church and Sunday-school Work. O 



114 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

evening, March 10, 1890. Rev. Dr. Strobridge presided,, 
and there was a large attendance. The reports showed the 
school to be free from debt and the average attendance 
through the year to have been 203. Officers elected : Elijah 
M. Yerks, Superintendent; Stephen T. Bell, Assistant; 
Miss Carrie W. Rehorn and Mrs. Catherine Sing, Female 
Assistants ; James McLachlan, Secretary ; Wm. M. Schultz, 
Assistant ; Frank E. Wheeler, Treasurer ; Charles Hallam, 
Librarian ; William F. Vincent and Vincent Mitchell, As- 
sistants. 

A committee was appointed to report resolutions ex- 
pressing the sense of the Board in regard to the faithful 
services of the retiring superintendent, Charles R. Leffing- 
well, who declined a reelection. A delightful feeling of 
unity characterized the meeting. 

The following are the present (April, 1891) officers of 
the school : Elijah M. Yerks, Superintendent ; Theodore 
Terrell, Mrs. Catherine B. Sing, and Miss Carrie W. Rehorn, 
Assistant Superintendents ; William M. Schultz, Secretary ; 
Frank E. Wheeler, Treasurer; Charles L. Hallam, Libra- 
rian ; Vincent Mitchell, Assistant Librarian. 

The teachers, in addition to those in the Chinese de- 
partment, are : Mr. A. Austin, Mr. O. L. Austin, Mr. F. H. 
Connolly, Miss Bricker, Miss Chadburn, Miss Callahan, 
Miss Heather, Miss Hogel, Miss Ketcham, Miss Lawrence, 
Miss Pearsall, Miss Rehorn, Miss Steele, Miss Vincent, 
Miss Embree, Miss Deen, Mrs. Schell, Mrs. Patterson, Miss 
Macfarlan, Mr. F. E. Wheeler, Mr. W. H. Terrell, Mr. T. 
Terrell. 



THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 11$ 

CHAPTER VI . 

THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The facts concerning the organization of this church 
are gathered from the historical address delivered at the 
twenty-fifth anniversary of the Reformed Church, April 
23, 1868, by Rev. David Cole, D. D., present pastor of the 
church. 

The history of the Reformed Church, known as the 
Reformed Dutch Church of Yonkers till November, 1867 
(when the denomination of which it is a branch, and which 
was called the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of 
America, dropped the word Dutch, and from that date has 
been called the Reformed Church in America), goes back 
to the spring of 1841, at which time there were but two 
churches in Yonkers, the St. John's Episcopal Church and 
the First Methodist Episcopal Church, both of which were 
located on Broadway, or the Albany post road, as it was 
then called. 

There were at that time only two residents of Yonkers 
who had formerly belonged to the Reformed Dutch Church 
in Market Street, New York. They were Mr. and Mrs. 
James Bashford, of New York, who then attended the 
church of Dr. Van Pelt at Fordham. There were other 
persons who formerly belonged to the Presbyterian Church 
who resided here, and who often expressed to each other a 
desire for a church of the Presbyterian order and govern- 
ment. 

Mr. Eben S. Hammond, a student in the Theological 
Seminary in New Brunswick, N. J., was the first person 
who preached to these people, April 18, 1841. He came to 
Yonkers on introduction by a letter from Rev. William S. 
Moore to Duncan Macfarlane. Mr. Moore introduced him 
as a young theological student about to visit Yonkers, who 
might be prevailed upon to' lecture here some evening 
during his stay. 

Two days after his coming Mr. Hammond met Rev. 



Il6 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

George Dubois, of the Reformed Church of Tarry town,, and 
Rev. William S. Moore, of the Reformed Church of Union- 
ville. After a conference, in which the religious wants of 
the village and the desire which had been expressed by 
the little gatherings for a church of the Presbyterian order 
in Yonkers were discussed, these clergymen determined to 
present the matter before the Classis of New York at a 
meeting held the same day, April 20, 1841. This was 
accordingly done by Rev. Mr. Dubois, and the Classis ap- 
pointed a committee to visit Yonkers and report at the fall 
session. 

The committee consisted of Rev. Peter I. Van Pelt, 
D. D., of Fordham, Rev. Thomas De Witt, D. D., of New 
York, and Rev. George Dubois, of Tarrytown. Rev. Mr. 
Dubois during the summer of 1841 started mission services 
at Yonkers, and was assisted in his work by Mr. Charles 
Dusenberry, of Tuckahoe, who had formerly been a mem- 
ber of the Franklin Street Reformed Church in New York, 
of which Rev. Mr. Dubois was formerly the pastor. 

Mr. Dusenberry expressed the desire that the people 
residing in his own locality might unite in a joint effort in 
maintaining a pastor in Yonkers and also in Greenville, 
eight miles from Yonkers. Mr. Dusenberry's suggestion 
met with a favorable response, and Rev. Mr. Dubois con- 
ducted services at both of these places in the summer of 
1 841. The report made by Rev. Mr. Dubois resulted in 
the appointment of a list of supplies, and preaching servi- 
ces were appointed to be held at Yonkers every Sunday 
morning, and in the afternoon in the vicinity of what is 
now called Greenville. 

The first ministerial supply was Rev. Samuel Van 
Vranken, D. D. The service was held in what was called 
the " Long Room," being two apartments which opened 
into each other and which were on the ground floor of an 
unoccupied building located on the southwest corner of 
Broadway and Main Street. This building was owned by 
Lemuel Wells, Sr., whose residence was Manor Hall (now 
the Yonkers City Hall on Warburton Avenue). The build- 
ing was afterwards purchased by Robert P. Getty, and is 
now on Riverdale Avenue near Washington Street. 



THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 11/ 

This building was kindly loaned for these services by 
Mr. Wells. The room was fitted out temporarily with seats 
loaned by the First Methodist Church from their lecture- 
room. A pulpit was hastily constructed by George Schlip- 
er, one of the original members, the cost of which was 
three dollars. The seats were brought in the evening by 
Duncan Macfarlane and Lewis Ritter, the latter a colored 
man, who subsequently became a communicant of St. 
John's Church, and was chosen sexton of that church in 
1847. These two persons spent the entire evening jn ar- 
ranging the room for Dr. Van Vranken's service. They 
were about leaving the room at twelve o'clock midnight, 
when they felt constrained to go back and pray for the 
divine blessing on the new enterprise about to be begun. 
They did so, and two earnest prayers were offered. 

The Methodist people, having no service of their own, 
attended Dr. Van Vranken's service that evening, and 
Messrs. Garret Norton and David Howell of that church 
kindly led the singing. 

On January 9, 1842, preaching services were conducted 
by Rev. William S. Moore. 

The next service in this building worthy of record was 
held on Sunday morning, August 21, 1842, when Rev. Vic- 
tor Moreau Hulbert, a recent graduate from the Theologi- 
cal Seminary at New Brunswick, preached from the text, 
" Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness leaning 
upon her Beloved?" Solomon's Song 8:5. 

The first audience consisted of about forty persons. 
The choir was led by Bailey Hobbs. Ralph Shipman 
played the bass viol. The other singers were Miss Mary 
Elizabeth Bashford (now Mrs. Edward Van Sice), Miss 
Sarah Jane Knifnn (now Mrs. William Percival), Lemuel 
W. Wells, Henry Gale, and Parven Cantrell. The result 
of this service was that Mr. Hulbert was employed as a 
permanent supply by the two neighborhoods of Yonkers 
and Greenville, as yet neither of them formally organized. 

The official relations of the new supply for the Yon- 
kers mission began September 1, 1842. 

The Society at Greenville soon erected a church build- 
ing, the corner-stone of which was laid June 13, 1842, and 



1 18 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

the formal organization of the church and the dedication 
of the building took place the same day, November 9, 1842, 
Rev. William S. Moore taking part in both services. Rev. 
Victor M. Hulbert received a call to become its pastor, and 
was ordained and installed as such on Wednesday, January 
4, 1843. The ordination sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. 
Knox. Rev. Dr. De Witt delivered the charge to the pastor, 
and Rev. George Dubois the charge to the people. The 
joint relations of the two congregations continued until 
1845, more than three years, during which period Rev. Mr. 
Hulbert served the church of Yonkers simply as a supply. 
He came to them on Saturday of each week and taught a 
singing school in the evening. 

April 18, 1843, Rev. Mr. Hulbert, on behalf of the peo- 
ple of Yonkers, presented a request to the Classis of New 
York for a formal organization of the people into a church. 
A committee, consisting of Rev. Messrs. Dubois and Hul- 
bert, was appointed to organize. The people met for this 
purpose April 23, 1843, at the close of the morning service. 
Twenty-nine persons were received into communion, eight- 
een upon profession and eleven upon certificate. From the 
members received, Lemuel W. Wells and Duncan Macfar- 
lane were chosen elders, and Frederick Nodine and Ralph 
Shipman deacons. 

Lemuel Wells, Sr., took a deep interest in this new 
church enterprise, often entertaining the ministerial sup- 
plies at his residence, Manor Hall. He had generously 
given the plot of ground for the First Methodist Church, 
and he was solicited during the year before his death, 
which occurred February 11, 1842, to give the plot of 
ground for the Reformed Church also. He was willing to 
do this, but before he carried out his purpose he died. 
Meanwhile the heirs of Mr. Wells had come into possession 
of his estate, and Lemuel Watts Wells, his nephew, held a 
power of attorney for all the heirs. 

He was deeply interested in the welfare and prosper- 
ity of the new enterprise from its earliest beginnings. 
He was a member of its first choir and an elder in its first 
consistory, in which latter relation he remained until April 
26, 1852. A church meeting was called July 29, 1844, to 



THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. II9 

talk over the matter of the erection of a church building. 
At this meeting a resolution was adopted to incorporate the 
church under an act passed April 5, 181 3, entitled " An act 
to provide for the incorporation of religious societies." Ac- 
cordingly on July 30, 1844, this church was incorporated 
and legally styled " The Ministers, Elders, and Deacons of 
the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Yonkers, County 
of Westchester and State of New York." 

After discussing the subject of the church building 
the following committees were appointed : 

On Site: Hiram Searl, Henry Gale, Rev. Victor M. 
Hulbert, Frederick Nodine. 

On Building : Lemuel W. Wells, Hiram Searl, Ethan 
Flagg. 

Consulting Committee : Rev. Victor M. Hulbert, Hon. 
Aaron Vark, Duncan Macfarlane. 

The committee on site reported August 3, 1844, in 
favor of the present site on Broadway (now South Broad- 
way), between Hudson and Prospect Streets, which was 
adopted. 

Lemuel W. Wells, in behalf of the heirs of his uncle, 
donated the present site to the congregation, and a com- 
mittee of five were appointed to solicit funds for the new 
huilding. 

The committee on building reported August 24, pre- 
senting plans and specifications, with estimates. The plans 
were adopted, and the contract was awarded to Henry Gale 
upon his estimate, $3,250. The corner-stone of the new 
church was laid on the 15 th of October, when Rev. Mr. 
Hulbert offered the opening prayer, Rev. Dr. Marselus 
delivered the address, Rev. Dr. Van Pelt offered the last 
prayer, and the service was closed with singing by the 
Sunday-school children. 

After these exercises the ladies held a fair at Manor 
Hall and realized during the day and evening $220 towards 
furnishing the church. The first service was held in the 
new building, August 24, 1845. The dedicatory services 
were held on Wednesday, August 27, 1845. Rev. Dr. Van 
Pelt pronounced the invocation and read the Scriptures. 
Then came the singing of the twenty-seventh Psalm, which 



120 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

was followed by the opening prayer and a chant by the 
choir. Rev. Victor M. Hulbert delivered an address and 
offered the dedicatory prayer. After singing of another 
hymn Rev. Dr. De Witt delivered the sermon and offered 
the closing prayer. 

" A chant, the doxology, and the benediction closed 
the interesting services, and the newly erected building 
stood thenceforth among the people a grateful tribute of 
their hearts and hands, and dedicated to the service of the 
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." 

On November 12, 1845, Rev. Victor M. Hulbert (now 
Rev. Dr. Hulbert), having received a call from his Yonkers 
people, was installed as their pastor, and continued in this, 
his first pastorate of this church, till April 18, 1848, when 
he received a call made, declined, repeated, and then ac- 
cepted, from the Reformed Church of Flatbush, Ulster 
County, N. Y. When he left Yonkers, 100 members were 
on the roll. 

The next pastor was Rev. Isaac S. Demund, who was 
installed here October 8, 1848. Under his pastorate the 
present parsonage adjoining the church was built. Mr. 
Ethan Flagg presented to the consistory the lot upon which 
it stands. Rev. Mr. Demund continued in the pastorate of 
this church till April 16, 1850, when he resigned to become 
the pastor of the Reformed Church of Belleville, N. J. At 
his departure 1 1 2 members were left on the roll. The con- 
gregation again extended a call to Rev. Mr. Hulbert to 
become their pastor, but he declined. 

Rev. D wight M. Seward (now Rev. Dr. Seward), of the 
Congregational Church of West Hartford, Conn., received 
a call to become their pastor, which was accepted. His 
installation took place on February 12, 185 1, and he contin- 
ued with the church till April 26, 1852, when he withdrew 
to become the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of 
Yonkers, which was organized May 10 of. the same year. 
At that date the membership of the church was 118. 

The Rev. V. M. Hulbert was again invited to return, 
and consented. He was reinstalled November 9, 1852, and 
remained with the church till September 21, 1865. At his 
coming the church filled rapidly, and the enlargement of 



THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 121 

the church became a necessity. It was rededicated in 
June, 1854. A parsonage was also built on the north side 
of the church. 

Rev. Mr. Hulbert's pastorate of this church,' exclusive 
of his early missionary period, extended over fifteen years. 
At the close of his second and last pastorate the church 
prospered, but its financial burdens were great, and a debt 
of $7,650 was left on the church property. The member- 
ship of the church was 148. 

Of the three pastors, the Rev. Dr. Hulbert and Rev. 
Dr. Seward are still living. Rev. Isaac S. Demund died 
at Ridgewood, N. Y., April 23, 1888. Rev. Dr. Hulbert 
resides at Battle Creek, Mich., and Rev. Dr. Seward at 
South Nor walk, Conn. 

The present pastor of the church, Rev. David Cole, D. D., 
was born at the family homestead, Spring Valley, N. Y., 
September 22, 1822. He is the son of Rev. Isaac D. and 
Maria Shatzel Cole, being on his father's side of Holland, 
and on his mother's of German, Welsh, and Holland de- 
scent. He entered the Sophomore class of Rutgers Col- 
lege in October, 1839, an ^ was graduated in July, 1842. 
He followed the profession of teaching from graduation 
till November, 1858. He taught select schools of his own 
at Tappan, N. Y., and New Brunswick, N. J. In 185 1 he 
became principal of Trenton Academy at Trenton, N. J. 
In 1855 ne was appointed by Gov. Rodman N. Price a 
member of the first Board of Trustees of the State Normal 
School of New Jersey, and in July, 1857, ne became Profes- 
sor of Latin and Greek in that institution. He was licensed 
April 13, 1858, at Pennington, N. J., by the Presbytery of 
New Brunswick to preach the gospel. On the twenty-third 
day of November of the same year he was ordained to the 
ministry and installed as pastor of the Reformed Church 
of East Millstone, Somerset County, N. J. In February, 
1863, he was elected Professor of the Greek Language and 
Literature in Rutgers College, and entered upon his work 
there March 16, 1863, leaving his pastorate at Millstone 
April 1. On the 8th of December, 1865, he accepted a call 
to the pastorate of the Reformed Church at Yonkers, over 
which he was installed pastor on the 10th of January, 1866. 



122 



CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 



Rev. Dr. Cole, as a minister of the Reformed Church, 
has been connected prominently for years with its institu- 




i!j, .. . ■..: ■■.' . ■■ ■ ... i : .. ., .■■■■■': 



tions and work, and has held the highest official positions in 
its gift. In 1884 he was President of the General Synod of 



THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. I 23 

the Reformed Church at Grand Rapids, Mich., and in 1887 
he was also delegated to represent the church in the Fourth 
General Council of the Alliance of the Reformed Churches 
holding the Presbyterian System which convened at Lon- 
don, England, July, 1888. 

Rev. Dr. Cole's pastorate began with a debt of $7,650, 
of which $1,650 was paid at once. In 1868 the church 
chapel was built adjoining the church, the parsonage hav- 
ing been removed to the corner of Prospect and Clinton 
Streets, and continued to be the pastor's residence till the 
spring of 1872. 

Improvements were made in the church costing nearly 
$6,400. In the spring of 1872 the Prospect Street parsonage 
was sold for $7,500, and the fine parsonage on 122 Warbur- 
ton Avenue was bought for $16,000. In the same year the 
interior of the church was improved at a cost of $5,500. 
After all these outlays and the maintaining of the running 
expenses of the church for three years, it was found in the 
spring of 1875 that the church indebtedness was $13,500. 
In the darkest of times financially to the country the con- 
gregation bravely paid the debt. 

In 1884 the first parsonage, which was lost to the 
church in the events of 1852, was recovered by purchase for 
$12,000, and put in order at a cost of $1,500. 

The total amount contributed by the church during 
Dr. Cole's pastorate up to April 1, 1890, was $191,950 86, of 
which $31,519 14 was given to benevolent objects. 

The debt on the church property is $3,800 on its par- 
sonage and $3,000 on its church chapel, the Ludlow Street 
Mission Chapel. The church property, lying in the centre 
of the city on South Broadway, is very valuable. 

A problem is before the people of this church whether 
they shall enlarge the present building or erect a new 
church edifice. The building, at this writing, would not on 
the lower floor hold even the members in communion if 
they should all be present at any one service ; much less 
would it accommodate its own non-communicants and give 
room for visitors. 

A building committee, consisting of the following gen- 
tlemen, George Stewart, Chairman, Wm. H. Dick, John 



124 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Pagan, Virgil Myers, Walter A. Drinkwater, and James 
Kellock, has been appointed, and plans and specifications 
for a new church edifice have been prepared. 

Many precious seasons of revivals have been enjoyed 
by this church under Dr. Cole's ministry, and "he has 
been permitted to welcome 414 souls by profession of their 
faith into the communion of this church. How many more 
have been savingly impressed by his fervent words, the 
revelations of the great day of the Lord shall disclose." 

The membership of the church at this writing, Novem- 
ber, 1890, is 411. 

A printed directory of church services and of general 
information is issued annually. The last year, ending 
April 30, 1890, gives the total amount of the gifts of the 
congregation to Home and Foreign Missions to be $982 40. 

Public exercises were held in the church on Thursday, 
December 11, 1890, at 7:30 P. M., in commemoration of the 
twenty-fifth anniversary of the settlement of the Rev. David 
Cole, D. D., as pastor of the church. 

By request of the committee, Mr. James Stewart, an 
elder of the church since May, 1866, presided at the service. 
The music was under the conduct of Prof. Edwin Moore, 
the church organist, and the singing was furnished by the 
following quartette, namely, Miss Evelyn Neely, soprano ; 
Miss Dora L. Costello, contralto; Mr. William J. Moore, 
tenor ; and Mr. Walter Thomas, bass. 

The following was the order of exercises : 

1. Organ Voluntary. 

2. Anthem — " Sing ye to God." 

3. Invocation Rev. Charles E. Allison. 

4. Reading of 87th Psalm - Rev. W. McKendree Darwood, D. D. 

5. Prayer ----- Rev. Alvah S. Hobart, D. D. 

6. Address - Rev. John Reid, D. D. 

7. Address William Allen Butler, LL. D. 

8. Singing. 

9. Address Rev. John K. Allen, 

Pastor of the First Reformed Church of Tarrytown, rep- 
resenting the Classis of Westchester. 
10. Address - Rev. Joachim Elmendorf, D. D., 

Pastor of the First Collegiate Reformed Church of Har- 
lem, representing the Reformed Church in America as 
a denomination. 



THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 1 25 

11. Closing Words ------ Rev. Dr. Cole. 

12. Singing. 

13. Benediction - Rev. William H. Mills, D. D. 

consistory's committee of arrangements. 

Joseph H. Palmer, James Kellock, 

Nathan S. King, M. D., Le Grand W. Ketchum, 

Alden C. Tompkins. 

THE LADIES' COMMITTEE ON RECEPTION. 

Mrs. Sarah E. Drinkwater, Mrs. David H. Ketchum, 

Mrs. Sidney S. Peck, Mrs. John P. Radcliff, 

Mrs. Joseph H. Palmer, Miss Helen A. Rollins, 

Mrs. Margaret A. Ackert, Miss Mary Berwick, 

Mrs. James H. Wheeler, Miss Anna M. See. 

The exercises throughout were deeply impressive. 

"The addresses were commemorative of a pastorate 
that in point of length has been frequently equalled and 
even surpassed, but which has been characterized by a loy- 
alty to Christ and his church that can scarcely be ex- 
celled. 

" At the close of the services at the church a reception 
was held at the parsonage. Both the audience at the 
church and the gathering at the parsonage were represent- 
ative of the highest church life and the best citizenship of 
Yonkers. With but three or four exceptions all the pas- 
tors and resident clergymen of the city were at both, and a 
number of ladies and gentlemen from abroad." 

Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Cole were the recipients of valuable 
gifts and testimonials from their people and friends. 

It may be inferred from Dr. Cole's long pastorate that 
he enjoys the confidence and affection of his people, which 
does not diminish with the passing years. 

The pastors and the length of their pastorates of the 
Reformed Church are as follows : Rev. Victor Moreau 
Hulbert, November 12, 1845, to April 18, 1848; Rev. Isaac 
S. Demund, October 8, 1848, to April 16, 1850 ; Rev. Dwight 
M. Seward, D. D., February 12, 1858, to April 26, 1852 ; Rev. 
Victor M. Hulbert, D. D., November 9, 1852, to September 
26, 1865 ; Rev. David Cole, D. D., December 10, 1865, to the 
present time. 

The present consistory of the church is as follows : 



126 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

ELDERS. DEACONS. 

James Stewart, Charles E. See, 

Hyatt L. Garrison, William M. Dick, 

Joseph H. Palmer, Martin Blauvelt, 

Virgil Myers, Lewis H. Wiggins, 

William G. Ackerman, Walter A. Drinkwater, 

John Pagan, James Kellock, 

George Stewart, Le Grand W. Ketchum, 

Nathan S. King, M. D. Alden C. Tompkins. 

The church has a Woman's Missionary Society, which 
was organized in April, 1875. It contributes to Home and 
Foreign Missions. In 1890 it contributed $470 to the Home 
and Foreign fields. The present officers are : 

Mrs. David Cole, President. Miss Agnes Mitchell, Secretary. 

Mrs. Nathan King, Vice-President. Miss Marion Stewart, Ass't Sec. 
Miss Helen A. Rollins, Treasurer. 

The church has also a Ladies' Aid Society, organized 
in 1888. 

The music is led by a volunteer choir with two excep- 
tions — Miss Evelyn Neely, soprano, and Miss Dora Costel- 
lo, alto— of from eight to ten voices. 

The organist and choir leader for twelve years has 
been Professor Edwin Moore. 

Mr. Isaac N. Barker was sexton for more than sixteen 
years. The present sexton is Mr. David A. Eddy. 

The present pulpit Bible was presented to the church 
April, 1868. 

The communion service was presented to the church 
April 23, 1868, by the members of the congregation. It 
was an offering of gratitude to God on the twenty-fifth an- 
niversary of the church. It is a very costly service and 
consists of two tankards, four goblets, five plates, and a 
baptismal bowl. 

The ordinance of the Lord's Supper is administered at 
the morning service, and infant baptism at the evening ser- 
vice, on the last Sabbaths of January, March, May, July, 
September, and November. 

ORDER OF BENEVOLENT OFFERINGS. 

Last Sabbath in May - - Westchester County Bible Society. 

Last Sabbath in June Domestic Missions. 

Last Sabbath in July Widows' Fund. 



THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. \2J 

Last Sabbath in August - Board of Education. 

Last Sabbath in September - American Tract Society. 

Last Sabbath in October ... Disabled Ministers' Fund. 

Last Sabbath in November - - The church Sunday-school. 

Last Sabbath in December - Poor of the church. 

Last Sabbath in January - Church Building Fund. 

Last Sabbath in February - Foreign Missions. 

Last Sabbath in March - Poor of the church. 

Last Sabbath in April - The church Sunday-school. 

Note. — The first Sabbath in January is set apart as " Hospital Sun- 
day." At the morning service of that day all the cash contributed through 
the collection is devoted to the benefit of St. John's Riverside Hospital of 
this city. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The exact date of the organization of this school can- 
not be definitely ascertained, as its early records have 
unfortunately been lost. It was probably organized in the 
year 1842. The information concerning its early history, 
from the above-mentioned date until the year 1865, has 
been obtained by the writer from correspondence with the 
pastors of the church and from others who have been con- 
nected with this Sunday-school. 

Anson B. Hoyt gives the following report of the school 
when it was held in the " Long Room :" "I can only recall 
seven teachers, Duncan Macfarlane, Lemuel W. Wells, 
Samuel Lawrence, Miss Sarah Kniffin, Miss Mary Bash- 
ford, Miss A. Emeline Hoyt, and myself. There were 
others, I think about a dozen in all. The school numbered 
about fifty scholars and the singing was led by Mr. Wm. 
Mann." 

In a letter received from the first pastor of the church, 
Rev. Dr. Hulbert, the following facts and incidents are 
given of the school under his pastorate : 

" Battle Creek, Mich., September 18, 1887. 
" Miss Agnes E. Kirkwood — My Dear Friend: Your 
communication was duly received, awakening many inter- 
esting memories of Yonkers. * * * I am very much grati- 
fied to know that you have given yourself to services use- 
ful to the world. * * * And now, in seeking to write up 
the Sunday-school history of Yonkers, I would gladly fur- 
nish any useful facts within my knowledge. But I fear I 



128 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

cannot render you any important service. At the time of 
the organization of the Sunday-school of the Reformed 
Church I was serving two churches, Yonkers and Green- 
ville, eight miles distant. My morning service was in 
Yonkers, where I took dinner and immediately left for 
Greenville. The Sunday-school of my church at Yonkers 
held its sessions afternoons in my absence at Greenville, so 
I was ignorant of its operations save as I was told. Your 
most authentic information on the early history of the 
Refomed Church would be from some of the surviving 
members, namely, Anson B. Hoyt, and others I cannot 
name. The school may have been organized previous to 
September i, 1842, when I became the first pastor. The 
exact date might be learned from the record books kept by 
the Sunday-school. 

" ' Who organized it ?' Probably it was a voluntary 
effort of members in council such as Duncan Macfarlane 
and Mr. Wells, or ' Farmer Wells,' as he was called. The 
first superintendent was Lemuel W. Wells. The number 
of scholars I do not know. The first place of holding the 
school was in two large rooms of a private house thrown 
together, situated on Broadway and Main Street. For the 
reason of my not being present at the sessions of the school 
at first I cannot give you any interesting incident of its 
management. 

" After I became sole pastor of the one church at Yon- 
kers I identified myself closely with the Sunday-school, 
teaching the children their tunes and also teaching a Bible- 
class. The Sunday-school of the Reformed Church of 
Yonkers is most vividly impressed on my memory from 
1852 to 1865. Dr. G. P. Reevs was a most efficient teacher 
of Bible truths. My eldest daughter became a Christian 
while under his valuable instruction, and always felt espe- 
cially grateful to him for his clear and convincing exposi- 
tion of Romans, causing her to feel solid on the doctrine of 
God's sovereignty with great comfort. George Radford, a 
noble young man, was in my Bible-class. He was fatally 
wounded at the battle of Fredericksburgh in the late civil 
war. His body was brought home and I preached his 
funeral sermon. 



THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 1 29 

" The elder David Stewart was a veteran in Church and 
in Sunday-school work.* 

" Our annual Sunday-school picnics were institutions 
highly enjoyed by all. Our Sunday-school music was among 
the most interesting and profitable, I may say, of our ser- 
vices, running in the ear of childhood onward to old age. 

" I am an old man now and nearly seventy-four years 
old, but among the pleasant scenes of my pastoral life the 
dear Sunday-school holds a prominent place in my memory. 
" Sincerely your friend, 

"VICTOR M. HULBERT." 

Rev. Dr. Hulbert was a very fine singer and took great 
pleasure in cultivating the musical talents of the children 

* The following interesting incident in regard to Elder David Stewart, 
to whom Dr. Hulbert refers, appeared in the " New York Observer " under 
the signature of Louise J. Kirkwood : 

" On a bright Sabbath morning by the side of a country road running 
along the Hudson, not many miles from New York, two men stood talking 
together. One was a Judge of high social standing and legal distinction, 
the other was a stone mason, and their conversation was about the build- 
ing of a new wall near the place where they were standing, to consult 
about which the Judge had sent for the mason on this Sabbath morning. 

" Just coming into sight as he trudged along the road on his way to 
church was a plain Scotch farmer, well known as a God-fearing, Sabbath- 
keeping, honest, hard-working man, neither fearing nor asking favor of the 
great or rich. His chief ambition in life seemed to be to raise a large fam- 
ily of children in the fear of God and honorably in the sight of men, which 
his example was well fitted to do. 

" In the midst of an animated explanation of what he wanted in a new 
wall, the Judge caught sight of the farmer. Stopping suddenly he said, 
' There comes David Stewart ; it will never do to let him see us talking 
business on Sunday morning. We will just step behind this bit of wall 
until he passes.' And the Judge and the mason crouched down behind the 
wall until the plodding footsteps of the farmer echoed faintly in the dis- 
tance, and the good man passed from sight, all unconscious of the silent 
reproof his appearance had caused ; while the Judge with feelings, one. 
would think, belittling to his manliness, crept from his hiding-place to con- 
tinue his conscience-confessed desecration of the Lord's day. 

"The next morning the incident was related to the farmer by the ma- 
son, who was himself a Scotchman, though unhappily not so conscientious 
as his friend. He told the story with some glee, adding : 

" Wha wad a thot, maun, that ye had sic a pooer in ye as to mak the 
Judge hide behint the wall for the fear o' ye ?' 

" Is not this incident an illustration of the force and influence of a sin- 
cere Christian character, and was it not a silent sermon preached by this 
good man which brought home to the Judge the conviction of his sin ?" 

Church and Sunday-school Work. Q 



130 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

in his Sunday-school in the days when less attention than 
now was given to the subject of Sunday-school music. 

Rev. Isaac S. Demund, the second pastor of the Re- 
formed Church, writes : 

" Ridgewood, N. J., December 21, 1887. 
" Miss A. E. Kirkwood : — I will endeavor to answer 
your inquiries in regard to the Reformed Church Sunday- 
school as best I can. The teachers who taught in the 
school under my pastorate were Rev. Dr. Robert Baird, 
Rev. Wm. C. Foote, Mr. Ralph Shipman, Duncan Macfar- 
lane, Samuel Barry, Joseph Jennings, Charles W. Baird, 
Dr. Levi W. Flagg* and his brother Ethan Flagg.f The 

* In the springtime of the year, thirty-four years afterwards, on May 
19, 1884, the funeral services of this beloved physician were held in the 
First Presbyterian Church of Yonkers, of which church he was one of the 
constituent members. The spacious audience-room and galleries were 
filled with friends from all ranks of society. The aged and the young, the 
fathers and mothers and the little children to whom he had so often and so 
kindly ministered, were there to pay their last tribute of regard to their 
loved and honored physician. It was a beautiful contrast, such as is rarely 
seen upon earth, the testimony of the rich and the testimony of the poor, 
their tears flowing together, each with a sense of personal loss. 

Rev. John Dixon, pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church of 
Yonkers, offered the opening prayer. The well-known hymn, "Rock of 
Ages," was very beautifully and tenderly sung by William G. Baird. Rev. 
John Reid, his pastor, said, " There is no man in this city who brought 
more sunshine into the homes where he entered than our departed friend 
and brother. His presence was as bright and cheering and strengthening 
as the sunshine in the sick-room, inspiring hope and courage alike to his 
patients and their attendants." He also alluded to his own personal expe- 
rience when two of his own household were laid low, and when the crisis 
of the disease was approaching how this physician, by his tones and man- 
ner, won his hearty confidence, and his tender, intelligent, and delicate 
care of his loved ones would never be forgotten. Speaking of his religious 
experience, his pastor said, ' The last time I called to see him it was with 
no uncertain words that he told me on whom his hopes were placed for 
eternity. There was a tenderness and maturity in his voice that told vol- 
umes of the quietness and composure and readiness of his spirit." 

Rev. Dr. Cole of the Reformed Church offered the last prayer, and the 
services were closed with the singing of Rev. C. Henri Malan's beautiful 
hymn, 

" It is not death to die, 

To leave this weary road, 
And 'mid the brotherhood on high 
To be at home with God." 

f Six months had scarcely elapsed when a large concourse of friends 



THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 131 

former took charge of the young ladies' Bible-class and the 
latter had a few young men. There were others I cannot 
now recall. The school was in charge of Mr. Lemuel Wells. 
There was a small infant class. The teacher's name I do 
not recall. 

" I was pastor of the Reformed Church from 1848 to 
1850. I was eighty -four years old last May. For fifty 
years and more it has been my part as a minister of the 
gospel faithfully to testify to the truth, whether men will 
hear or forbear. Not a word, not a promise, spoken by our 
Lord with regard to what he has revealed shall fall to the 
ground. He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin 
of the world. He alone can save ; he alone can cover the 
sins that have been committed by the believer with his 
expiatory blood. He alone by his blood can wash away all 
our stains, making us whiter than snow. He alone can 
save. He alone can baptize with the Holy Ghost and with 
fire. 

" Affectionate regards to yourself and Dr. Cole, 

"ISAAC S. DEMUND." 

The following additional names of teachers and schol- 
ars have been given by Janet Stewart, a former pupil, and 
daughter of Elder David Stewart (now Mrs. Samuel B. Stil- 
well, of Ulster County, N. Y.), who were in the Sunday- 
school under Rev. Mr. Demund's pastorate : James Nodine, 
Samuel Rockwell, Edward Hunt, and Sarah Keeler. The 
school numbered from 150 to 175 pupils. 

The Sunday-school continued to meet in the " Long 
Room" until the completion of the church in August, 
1845. The first service in the new church was held Sun- 
gathered again in the First Presbyterian Church to attend the funeral ser- 
vices of Ethan Flagg, which were conducted by his pastor, Rev. John Reid, 
assisted by Rev. D. M. Seward, D. D., a former pastor of the church. The 
same beautiful hymns were sung as at the funeral of his brother, Levi W. 
Flagg, M. D. Tender and appreciative words were spoken by his pastor 
of the worth of his Christian character and of his far-reaching usefulness 
as a citizen of Yonkers. Then his bereaved kindred bore the remains of 
their loved one with calm trust to a consecrated grave made thus by the 
crucified and risen Saviour who had abolished " death and hath brought 
life and immortality to light in the gospel." These brothers were "lovely 
and pleasant in their lives, and in death they were not divided." 



132 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

day morning, August 24, and probably the first session of 
the Sunday-school in the new church was held in the after- 
noon of the above-mentioned date. It continued to meet 
in the audience-room of the church until the completion of 
the lecture-room in the basement of the church, about the 
latter part of the month of June, 1854. 

Miss Anna C. Cantrell gives reminiscences of the Sun- 
day-school during her connection with it. 

"Washington, D. C, April 23, 1888. 

" My Dear Miss Kirkwood :— Mr. Charles W. Baird 
was superintendent of the Sunday-school in the church in 
the village — the one near Dr. Flagg's old home. There is 
no doubt about that. But I think the church was then 
called the Dutch Reformed. I remember perfectly a beau- 
tiful little address which Mr. Baird made in rearranging 
the seats in the Sunday-school. The older classes occupied 
the front seats and he wished to put the children there, so 
that he might the more easily address the school as 'my 
dear children.' I remember the very tones that voiced 
his loving Christian heart and the glow that lighted 
his beautiful and spiritual face as he spoke the simple 
words. 

" Mr. Wells was superintendent before this. The Sun- 
day-school once met in the old Manor Hall when the Wells 
family lived there. I was a pupil at the time, and Mr. 
Wells used to take me in his arms as one of the 'little 
ones.' 

" Very sincerely yours, 

"ANNA C. CANTRELL." 

This beloved superintendent afterwards studied for 
the ministry in the Union Theological Seminary, New 
York. He was graduated in 1852, and was licensed to the 
ministry by the Presbytery of New Brunswick. In 1853 
he was ordained by the same body. From 1852 to 1854 he 
was chaplain of the American Chapel at Rome, where he 
remained two years. For some time after his return to 
this country he was engaged in study and in ministering 
for one or two years to a church in Brooklyn. In the 
spring of 1861 he was called to the pastorate of the Presby- 
terian church at Rye, where he remained the faithful and 



THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 1 33 

greatly beloved pastor until the relation was dissolved by 
his death, February 10, 1887. 

Rev. Mr. Baird received the degree of D. D. from his 
alma mater in 1876. 

The memory of Dr. Baird as a scholar will be perpetu- 
ated by his published works, prominent of which is his 
" History of the Huguenot Emigration to America." 

" It would be difficult adequately to portray in words 
the graces of his character as they will be remembered and 
cherished by his friends, the people of his charge, his asso- 
ciates in the ministry, and indeed by all who knew him 
personally. He was a man of transparent purity and sim- 
plicity of heart, dignified, polished, and gentle in his man- 
ners, almost singularly modest in spirit and in all his de- 
portment. He was one to whom we may truthfully apply 
the words of our Lord in the sense in which they were 
originally uttered, ' Of such is the kingdom of God.' He 
was thoroughly devoted to the work which God had given 
him to do, making full proof of his ministry, and at the 
end exemplifying the whole tenor of his life by responding 
to the summons which called him away. ' You know that 
I am ready,' were among the last words he uttered." 

Through the suggestion of the librarian of the school, 
John Berwick, a printed catalogue of the library was first 
made in 1854. Mr. Berwick prepared it for publication 
and efficiently served the school as its librarian for three 
years. 

Anson B. Hoyt was one of the early superintendents, 
and a very popular one, as was shown by his being elected 
to the office four times. In the year 1862-3, during the 
war of the rebellion, he resigned his position as superim 
tendent and became Chaplain of a regiment in the army. 

Gustavus A. Rollins was one of the superintendents of 
this school when it met in the basement of the church in 
i860. Special attention was given by the school at that 
time to the committal of Bible verses, and Mr. Rollins 
offered rewards for the committal of the catechism. The 
Heidelberg Catechism was taught in several of the largest 
classes. 

Large portions of the Bible were committed to mem- 



134 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

ory by the pupils. The interest taken in this important 
feature of Sunday-school work was doubtless owing in a 
great degree to the special interest which was manifested 
by the superintendent. Mr. Rollins was very exact in en- 
forcing the rule of punctual attendance of both teachers 
and scholars, scarcely varying if ever a minute from the 
time appointed to open and close the school. For the 
strict observance of this rule he won the sobriquet of the 
" minute man " among the delinquent teachers. 

John K. Myers taught a class of young ladies in the 
Reformed Sunday-school when it was held in the base- 
ment of the church. He was a very efficient and instruct- 
ive teacher. His talent for locating incidents in Bible 
history and illuminating and elucidating Scripture truths 
is well remembered by those privileged to be under his 
instruction, nearly all of whom united with the church 
while under his charge, the writer being among the num- 
ber, and by whom he is held in affectionate and grateful 
remembrance. He always manifested a kindly interest in 
all that interested the members of his class (some of whom 
were preparing to become teachers), especially in their 
acquisition of knowledge. 

In 1856 Joseph H. Palmer was acting superintendent 
for a brief period. In i860 he was assistant superintend- 
ent. In 1 86 1 Mr. Palmer was elected superintendent, and 
served until 1866. 

The attendance of the school during that period was 
large, several Bible-classes were held in the church, and 
the infant class in the gallery. 

Mr. Palmer, while acting secretary in 1875, had super- 
vision of the infant class also. 

The school met in the basement of the church till the 
new chapel adjoining the church was dedicated in Novem- 
ber, 1868. In that year the average attendance of the 
school was 1 20. The teachers who taught in the basement 
of the church and who with the school entered the new 
chapel were : Walter A. Underhill, Superintendent, David 
Stewart, Sr., Gustavus A. Rollins, Anson B. Hoyt, Joseph 
H. Palmer, Hyatt L. Garrison, Dr. Gabriel P. Reevs, James 
Stewart, Philip A. Deyo, George Stewart, Alexander Dick- 



THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 1 35 

son, Augustus C. Bechstein, Ralph E. Prime, Mrs. Abra- 
ham Fredenburgh, Mrs. William A. Drinkwater, Mrs. Ja- 
cob D. Wood, Miss Helen A. Rollins, Miss Adelia Emeline 
Hoyt, Miss Catherine S. Williams, Miss Julia C. Pratt (now 
Mrs. Dr. Hocking), Miss Josephine F. Disbrow, Miss Sarah 
L. Disbrow, Miss Sarah J. Beebe, Miss Hulda Radford (now 
Mrs. William Welsh), Miss Mary Berwick, Miss Lizzie Ber- 
wick (now Mrs. James Montgomery), Miss Isabella Berwick 
(now Mrs. Henry V. Clark), Miss Cornelia S. Stilwell (now 
Mrs. Charles F. Hulbert), Mrs. Thomas H. Collins, and 
Miss Victoria Morrison. 

In May, 1869, the school was under the superintend- 
ency of Dr. G. P. Reevs and of his assistant, Augustus 
Bechstein, and was in a very prosperous condition. The 
chapel was more than filled by scholars, so that several 
classes were obliged to meet in the audience-room of the 
church. A half-hour's teachers' prayer-meeting was held 
after the close of the session of the school, which was most 
delightful and profitable to all who participated in it. It 
was also fruitful in its results, cultivating not only a pleas- 
ant social feeling among the teachers, but a devotional spirit 
alike in teachers and the larger scholars of the school. A 
weekly teachers' meeting was also held, which was well 
attended. The contributions of the school for benevolent 
objects were large. The school maintained at that time a 
Bible reader in the foreign mission field. It numbered 
475 pupils. 

From a very comprehensive annual report presented 
by Secretary Joseph H. Palmer in April, 1875, are gleaned 
the following statistics: James Stewart, Superintendent. 
Officers and teachers, 39 ; number of classes, 32 ; Infant- 
class enrolment, 121 ; total average attendance of pupils, 
195 ; largest attendance, 230; added to the communion of 
the church on confession of faith, 37 ; deaths, two pupils 
and one teacher, Miss Mary Reevs ; volumes in library, 
680; receipts, $303 94; expenditures, $295 58. 

The secretary concludes his report as follows : 
* " A large Bible-class, embracing about forty different 
members, is taught in the chapel by the pastor, Rev. Dr. 
Cole, every Thursday afternoon. It is composed of Sun- 



136 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

day-school teachers and scholars and others who chiefly 
attend the church services. It is indirectly a preparation 
for the Sunday-school work and one of the most important 
branches. 

" It gives me great pleasure to bear testimony to the 
promptness and cheerfulness of all the Sunday-school offi- 
cers in the performance of their duties. 

" The efficiency and growth of the school are chiefly 
due to the teachers." 

The following is from a printed report of this Sunday- 
school in the centennial year, December, 1876: Officers, 7; 
teachers, 36 ; scholars on register, 370 ; average attendance, 
203; largest attendance, 267; number in Infant-class, 120; 
conversions, 13 ; deaths,. 3 ; volumes in library, 685 ; receipts, 
$657 94; expenditures, $588 25. 

Its officers are : James Stewart, Superintendent ; Hyatt 
L. Garrison, Assistant Superintendent ; Joseph H. Palmer, 
Secretary; Martin Blauvelt, Assistant Secretary; Edward 
Garrison, Treasurer ; Nelson Ackert, Librarian ; Garret 
Rose, Assistant Librarian. The teachers are : Miss Mary 
Berwick, Miss Cornelia Stilwell, Miss Anna Schryver, Miss 
Helen Rollins, Miss Sarah J. Beebe, Miss J. Dickson, Miss 
Marion Stewart, Miss Emma Smith, Miss Hulda Radford, 
Miss Anna Palmer, Miss Emma Radford, Mrs. Warren, Miss 
G. Stewart, Miss Emma Peene, Miss Hattie Spear, Mrs. 
Fredenburgh, Miss Emeline Hoyt, Miss S. Hoyt, Miss K. 
Huestis, Miss L. Baldwin, Mrs. Thomas H. Collins, Messrs. 
Benjamin Warren Still well, Bethune Reevs, C. Underhill, 
Adolphus Rollins, S. S. Craine, Edward Garrison, Alexan- 
der Dickson, J. Pruyn, Dr. G. P. Reevs, Anson B. Hoyt, 
Walter Underhill, George Stewart, J. B. Silkman, and 
Hyatt L. Garrison. 

The officers of the school in April, 1877, were : George 
Stewart, Superintendent ; Martin Blauvelt, Secretary ; Rob- 
ert Stewart, Assistant Secretary ; George Poucher, Treas- 
urer ; Nelson Ackert, Librarian ; and Isaac D. Cole, Assist- 
ant Librarian. 

This school was the first in Yonkers to introduce the 
annual summer excursion by steamboat, now adopted by 
so many of our Sunday-schools. It has given its pupils an 



THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 1 37 

excursion each summer for over thirty years. The excur- 
sion in early days was a leading event of the year, and 
was looked forward to by parents and children with eager 
expectation. This school was alone in the practice for 
more than fifteen years. Probably the first Sunday-school 
picnic in Yonkers was held by this school. It was held at 
Glenwood on the grounds now occupied by the residence of 
James B. Colgate. 

Miss Mary Berwick, then a pupil in the school, recalls 
the pleasurable time spent by the school there, and makes 
mention of the big swing constructed from a huge grape- 
vine which was entwined around one of the large forest- 
trees and afforded amusement for old and young, and the 
generous hospitality of the superintendent, Joseph H. Jen- 
nings, who welcomed them to the grounds and who provi- 
ded a large part of the refreshments for the occasion. 

The picnic at West Point, August, 1867, is recalled as 
being an unusually delightful occasion. 

Superintendent Joseph H. Palmer introduced religious 
exercises in connection with these excursions, prayer being 
offered before leaving the Sunday-school, and the singing 
of Sunday-school songs while at the groves. 

" A very considerable change was produced in the 
number of pupils of this school in the year 1882 by chan- 
ging the hour of meeting from afternoon to the morning. 
This changed the character of the school, making it less of 
a mission and more of a church school. The school lost in 
numbers by the step, but improved by making its aims 
more definite. After a time it began to increase in num- 
bers, and the wisdom of the course became apparent in the 
increased solidity of the school." 

Miss Kate S. Williams, Mrs. Thomas H. Collins, and 
Miss S. J. Beebe were most zealous, devoted, and success- 
ful teachers in this school. These three beloved teachers 
have entered into the rest that remain eth. " And I heard 
a voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead 
which die in the Lord from henceforth ; yea, saith the 
Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their works 
follow with them." 

44 In 1883 the Association character of the school, which 



138 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

had been maintained from the beginning, was changed. It 
was by a vote of the officers and teachers distinctly placed 
in the care of the Consistory. This had always been its 
theory but not its practice. Now the Consistory were 
directly asked to assume the care of it, to appoint a Stand- 
ing Committee on Sunday-school supervision, and even to 
appoint and annually reappoint its officers. This origina- 
ted as to suggestion with Dr. Cole, the pastor, but as to act 
with the school itself. The application was made to the 
Consistory January 23, 1883, and at once granted. From 
that time the school ceased to be an Association, and has 
been the church school. No change has since been made 
in its arrangement except that, for the relief of what on 
working proved a difficulty, the Consistory returned to 
the school again the right to choose its own officers annu- 
ally. The relation between the Consistory and the school 
under the arrangement as now carried on seems to be per- 
fect. It conforms to the governmental system of the Re. 
formed Church and establishes organic connection between 
the school and the church of which it is a part." 

The Christmas festivals have always been occasions of 
great delight to the teachers and scholars, that of 1881 
being of an unusually interesting character. The church 
was filled with the children and friends of the school. 

Rev. Dr. Lansing, the prince of children's speakers, 
addressed them. The recitation in concert of the twenty- 
third Psalm by the infant-class and a " Missionary Solilo- 
quy" by five little girls were excellent. The Christmas 
carols were very beautiful and the singing was good. The 
young people and children acquitted themselves admirably 
in all the exercises. The pupils were presented with hand- 
some books. The teachers and scholars gave a beautifully 
bound copy of Matthew Henry's Commentary, which, with 
other valuable books — the gift of the pastor — were sent to 
their Bible-reader in India. Hyatt L. Garrison was the 
superintendent of the school that year, and great success 
and prosperity attended it in every department. 

The Christmas celebration of 1888 was of an interest- 
ing character. The carols were beautiful, and the teachers 
and pupils received a variety of handsome presents. Spe- 



THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 1 39 

cial gifts were given to thirty-nine pupils who had been 
present at every session of the school during the past year. 
Rev. H. B. Grose delivered an address which was pleasing 
and profitable to both old and young. 

Children's Day is observed in this school with appro- 
priate services, the pastor usually addressing the children. 

The exercises in the school on Children's Day, June 17, 
1889, were held in the church on Sunday evening. The 
teachers and scholars marched from the chapel into the 
church, keeping step to the organ voluntary played by Ed- 
win Moore. 

The services were opened by the singing of the hymn, 
" To praise Thee, ever bounteous Lord," followed by prayer. 
The congregation participated with the school in the hymns 
and responsive readings which followed. 

Misses Marion de Revere, Bessie Osborne, Annie 
Odell, and Mabel Doren gave appropriate recitations. The 
chorus and semi-chorus, " Dear little Pansy," was very 
sweetly sung by the Primary Department, as was also the 
" Motion Chorus." The duet, quartette, and chorus, " There 
is Joy in every Sunbeam," was beautifully rendered by sev- 
eral of the members of the advanced Bible-classes. 

Rev. Dr. Cole followed with brief congratulatory re- 
marks, closing with a well-deserved commendation to the 
little ones of the Primary Department for their excellent 
attention and good behavior throughout the exercises of 
the extremely Avarm evening. The meeting closed with 
the chorus, " Thanks to God." 

At the Christmas festival in 1 889 the church was crowd- 
ed with the Sunday-school pupils and their friends when 
the exercises began at half-past seven o'clock. Superin- 
tendent Charles E. See presided. Excellent singing by the 
school was the principal contribution of that body to the 
entertainment. 

An address by Rev. Dr. George E. Strobridge was very 
appropriate and very interesting ; and brief addresses by 
the pastor, Rev. Dr. Cole, and by the former superintend- 
ent, C. F. Tietjen, were also made. 

A number of scholars who had not been absent from 
school during the year received handsome books, and 



140 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

books were given also to some who had missed through 
sickness, only one Sabbath. 

The Primary Department was formerly divided into 
small classes, Miss Caroline Radford and Miss Rachel 
Waring at one time in charge of it. Miss Lizzie Berwick 
(now Mrs. James Montgomery) also served as its superin- 
tendent, having one assistant. It then numbered between 
forty and fifty pupils. During the session of the large 
school, it met in the audience-room of the church, assem- 
bling with the school only at the opening and closing exer-' 
cises. 

Mr. George Stewart superintended this department 
from 1 87 1 until May, 1888. His unceasing fidelity and 
devotion kept the class always steady and regular in its 
attendance and solid in its progress. The affection of its 
teacher for the class was earnest, and the class returned 
it heartily. The groundwork of the school is done in this 
class. The children committed Bible verses, catechism 
questions, and many familiar hymns. The class numbered 
about sixty. Mr. Stewart was assisted by his daughter, 
Mrs. Bethune Reevs. 

At this time, January, 1891, Miss Marion Stewart is 
the superintendent. She is assisted by her sister, Mary E. 
Stewart. They have been in charge since May, 1888, and 
are devoted to their work and very successful in it. They 
celebrated the reopening of their class in September, 1889, 
with the presentation of beautiful bouquets of foliage plant 
leaves and gay autumn flowers to each member of the de- 
partment. The children were highly delighted with these 
gifts. 

The enrolment is about seventy pupils, with an aver- 
age attendance of fifty. The International Series of les- 
sons is taught. The paper distributed is the " Sunbeam." 
The collections are given to the general fund of the school. 
The singing book used is " Infant Songs." 

The Society of Christian Endeavor connected with this 
church was organized April 15, 1887, with forty members, 
nearly all of whom were members of the Sunday-school. 
The pastor, Rev. David Cole, D. D., William M. Dick, Wal- 
ter A. Drinkwater, Le Grand W. Ketcham, Miss Anna M. 



THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 141 

Palmer, and Miss Jennie R. Doren were appointed to pre- 
pare a constitution, which was adopted. " The object of 
this society is to promote an earnest Christian life among 
its members and to make them more useful in the service 
of God." In addition to its regular prayer-meeting, which 
is held every Sabbath, once in a month a consecration 
meeting is held. At this meeting it is expected that the 
active members shall in some way orally testify concerning 
his or her own progress in the Christian life. There are 
also several standing committees, such as the lookout, 
prayer-meeting, and social committees, etc. This organiza- 
tion is a source of great power to the church and is devel- 
oping a strong service and character in the young people 
of the church and Sunday-school. Young people must be 
members of the church before they can be received into 
active membership in this society. 

Rev. Dr. Cole has always been closely identified with 
the Sunday-school, and rarely fails to be present either at 
its opening or closing exercises, not infrequently taking 
the place of an absent teacher. A warm attachment exists 
between him and the members of the school and the young 
people of his church, which found expression in their propo- 
sition to send him and Mrs. Cole on their recent European 
tour. This desire was heartily seconded by all the mem- 
bers of his church and congregation, who aided them finan- 
cially in carrying out this plan. Their departure from 
America was made on July 9, 1887, in the steamer "Um- 
bria." They travelled by sea and land 12,000 miles, and vis- 
ited Ireland, Scotland, England, Holland, Belgium, France, 
Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, and visited at all but 
eight of the capitals of Europe. 

The services in the church on Sunday previous to the 
departure of Dr. Cole on his European trip were unusually 
interesting, and his remarks were chiefly in reference 
thereto. The Society of Christian Endeavor was present. 
Rev. Dr. Cole closed his remarks with an earnest and im- 
pressive charge to the young people to be faithful and true 
to their society, to each other, to continue to read and study 
the Word of God, to pray for one another, and so to live 
that others should take knowledge of them that they had 



142 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

been with Jesus. Preceding the services the ordinance of 
baptism was administered to two infants — Anna May Dick 
and Florence Estelle Drinkwater. 

Dr. and Mrs. Cole on their return received a most 
hearty welcome by the members of the home and mission 
Sunday-schools, the Society of Christian Endeavor, and the 
congregation. 

A pleasant reception was prepared by the society on 
Friday evening, October 26, 1887. Under the skilful and 
tasteful direction of the Decorating Committee the chapel 
of the church presented a beautiful appearance. 

Letters of welcome were read from Rev. Dr. Stro- 
bridge, Rev. C. E. Allison, and Rev. E. C. Moore. Brief 
addresses were made by Rev. C. W. Millard, Rev. J. H. 
Bertholf, son-in-law of Dr. Cole, and Alexander O. Kirk- 
wood. 

Dr. Cole responded to all these tender and warm words 
of welcome from his brethren in the ministry, with much 
feeling and appreciation, after which refreshments were 
served in great abundance. So with music and song and 
social chat the hours passed all too quickly, but they will 
be held in pleasant remembrance by all who enjoyed 
them. 

In the home school on Sunday, October 28, 1887, the 
exercises began at 9 145 in the morning, the superintendent, 
Christian Tietjen, promptly to the minute announcing the 
opening hymn, entitled " Our Morning Prayer." 

At the close of the lesson for the day, Superintendent 
Tietjen made some very happy remarks in relation to Dr. 
Cole's return, and in closing said, " When he enters that 
door this morning, which I hope he will, I want you all to 
rise and sing ' Welcome Home ' from your hymn-book. 
And I know you will sing it heartily." 

At this moment Dr. Cole entered the room, not from 
the side door leading into the church, as he was wont to 
come, nor from the door at the entrance, as he sometimes 
came, but quite unexpectedly to all through the door at the 
head of the stairs leading into the basement, where he had 
been saying a few words of greeting to the infant-class. 
Unexpected as this was the school at once arose, and the 



THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 143 

organist, Edwin Moore, led them in singing their " Wel- 
come Home." The scene was very impressive. 

At the close Dr. Cole rose and, hesitating for a mo- 
ment, said, " I feel overcome by the profuse welcomes you 
have given me. I cannot command my voice ; no language 
can express my feelings. I thank you a thousand times 
for this bright and cheery welcome you have given me. It 
prepares me for my future work for you. When I left you 
it was with some anxiety. I feared that the chain of 
thought and feeling might be lost in your contact with the 
world and the new circumstances which would be before 
you. You know we had just come from the delightful 
atmosphere with which the church and school had been 
surrounded for the past few months, for the silent and all- 
powerful influence of God's Holy Spirit was working in our 
church and school. But the warm welcome which I have 
received from you makes me feel that it has not been so. 
Perhaps some of you will greet me with a still warmer wel- 
come, that some of you will come forward and tell me how 
you have found the Saviour since I have been away. Since 
I left you I have seen many forms of religion in the differ- 
ent countries I have visited, of which I will tell you at an- 
other time. Do you know that your privileges are far 
greater than many others enjoy? And for that reason 
your responsibility is far greater. Avail yourselves of these 
precious opportunities, and may the dear Lord pour his own 
bountiful blessing upon this Sunday-school." 

The closing hymn, " Working for Christ," was then 
sung and the school dismissed. 

In the church the morning service began by singing 
" Praise God, from whom all blessings flow." The 107th 
Psalm was then read, followed by the hymn, " While Thee 
I seek, protecting Power." Dr. Cole offered an earnest 
prayer, full of thanksgiving for past and present blessings. 

The sermon was from these words, " Believe on the 
Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 16:31. The preacher com- 
menced by expressing profound gratitude to God for pre- 
serving himself and wife from dangers by sea and land 
and throughout their journey of more than 12,000 miles 
without abatement of health, and for bringing them safely 



144 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

to their Yonkers home. " As our brave ship on her home- 
ward journey was battling with the tempest we felt that we 
were borne up by the prayers of God's dear people, and the 
knowledge of this came to us as we journeyed along through 
the week and on the Sabbath day as we rested. And we 
desire, Mrs. Cole and myself, to put on record our deep and 
profound gratitude, first to God for his tender care, and 
next to our dear people for their loving prayers." 

Dr. Cole then spoke of the deaths which had occurred 
in the congregation since his absence, those of Robert Hal- 
ley, Mrs. William Kellogg, esteemed members of the church, 
and another member of his congregation, and of the three 
little infants who had been taken into the kingdom of 
heaven. He also mentioned his intention of giving a 
course of lectures to the members of the Society of Chris- 
tian Endeavor on the countries he had visited, and conclu- 
ded by speaking of the appropriateness of God's saving 
plan of salvation for a lost world. 

Rev. J. Henry Berth olf preached in the church in the 
evening to a large audience, in which the Young People's 
Society of Christian Endeavor was represented by its offi- 
cers and members. 

Rev. Dr. Cole delivered a series of lectures in the 
Reformed Church, under the auspices of the Young Peo- 
ple's Society of Christian Endeavor, upon the cities of Lon- 
don, Edinburgh, Paris, and Rome. They were illustrated 
with stereopticon views by George D. Mackay, Vice-Presi- 
dent of the Y. M. C. A. 

Miss Jennie R. Doren, Miss Marion Stewart, Miss 
Lucy A. Bragdon, Miss Mamie Costello, Miss Phcebe Pal- 
mer, Walter A. Drinkwater, William M. Dick, William A. 
Wiggins, and A. C. Tompkins attended the convention of 
sister societies in Philadelphia in 1889 as delegates from 
the Christian Endeavor Society of the Yonkers Reformed 
Church. 

The present membership of the society is eighty-five. 

President Mr. W. A. Wiggins. 

Vice-President Miss Phcebe Palmer. 

Secretary Miss Mary E. Stewart. 

Treasurer Miss Edith A. Doren. 



THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 145 

CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES. 

Lookout Committee - - Miss Marion Stewart. 

Prayer-meeting - - Mr. John P. Radcliff, Jr. 

Social " - Mr. W. A. Drinkwater. 

Music and Flower - - Charles F. Walters. 

The Mission Band of this school was begun by a class 
of little girls taught by Miss Grace Stewart (now Mrs. John 
W. Alexander). It contributed towards the missionary 
fund of the church and also made its president, Miss Stew- 
art, a life member of the Woman's Board of Missions of the 
Reformed Church. After the resignation of its president 
it was disbanded for a time, but was reorganized by Mrs. 
Thomas Lyall in 1883, who gave it the name of "Joy 
Bells." Its officers were: Mrs. C. F. Tietjen, President; 
Mrs. Thomas Lyall, Vice-President ; Miss Agnes Mitchell, 
Secretary ; Miss V. Hover, Corresponding Secretary ; Miss 
Marion Stewart, Treasurer. These officers took charge of 
it for two years, during which time it contributed towards 
the support of a missionary in Utah and responded liber- 
ally to an appeal — made by the writer — in behalf of the 
Woman's Board of Missions in New York for contributions 
towards a fund to procure a boat for the missionaries in 
Petchaburi, Siam. The amount raised that year was $93. 

The following extract is taken from a letter received 
in acknowledgment of the money contributed by the " Joy 
Bells " Mission Band and the " Constant Workers " Mission 
Band of the Westminster Church for that object : 

" The children in Yonkers have done a great tiring in 
giving their money towards so noble an enterprise as this. 
The missionaries in Siam needed a boat very much to carry 
forward their work successfully. Some of them often go 
away on mission work for several days, and if any one takes 
sick one of the best cures is to go off in a boat for a day or 
two. There has been a great deal of sickness here lately, 
and I think it did some of our missionaries very much good 
to get away even for a day from the Compound, where death 
has made such havoc recently. As we sailed up the river 
we distributed our books and tracts to the crowd of curious 
natives, old and young. So we tried to scatter handfuls of 
good seed in their hearts and leave it to God's fostering 

Church and Sunday-school Wort. IO 



146 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

care. Again we congratulate the little stockholders in 
Yonkers who have so liberally given their pennies to pur- 
chase our boat. As they have so freely given so may they 
freely receive the blessed Saviour's blessing." 

The band is now in charge of Miss Helen A. Rollins, 
who is assisted by Mrs. Samuel Barclay and Miss Jennie 
Doren. It has a membership of 224. It contributes to- 
wards home and foreign missions, and raised in 1887 $112. 

In 1888 it held a most enjoyable entertainment, known 
as the " Dolls' Fair." The dolls' fair was a great success, so 
much so, that by request it was repeated the following even- 
ing. The sum of $25 was realized by the dolls' reception. 

In 1888 the band assumed the support of Gria Sonn- 
dari, a native teacher in India. The present officers of the 
band, January, 1 890, are : Miss Helen Rollins, President ; 
Miss Veronica Hover, Vice-President ; Miss Jennie R. Do- 
ren, Secretary and Treasurer. 

May, 1888, Rev. Dr. David Cole and Elder George 
Stewart were selected as delegates from the Reformed 
Church in America to the Alliance of Reformed Churches 
and to the World's Missionary Conference, which was held 
in London in June. On Sunday, May 20, a very interesting 
farewell meeting was held by the Sabbath-school and by 
the church with the pastor and elder. Mr. Stewart had 
been the successful superintendent of the Primary Depart- 
ment of the school for a number of years, and the exercises 
were especially sympathetic. 

The evening service was devoted to missions. The 
Society of Christian Endeavor was active in these various 
meetings. 

On Wednesday the society and many members of the 
congregation were gathered on the " Germanic " to bid 
Godspeed to Dr. Cole and the elder. 

Miss Helen A. Rollins has taught in this Sunday-school 
since 1852, beginning the work of Sunday-school teacher 
when but a child with teaching a class of little children. 
She has had charge of the largest Bible-class in the school 
since 1865, at which time the place it occupied in the chapel 
school became too small to accommodate its increasing 
numbers, and it was moved to the gallery of the church, 



THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 147 

which it occupies at the present writing. The class was 
formerly composed of young men. Now young ladies are 
among its members as well. 

The two pupils of this school sent to New Brunswick 
as students for the ministry, namely, James H. Owens and 
Henry J. Bogardus, were members of this class. The for- 
mer is now the pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Perth 
Amboy, N. J. Mr. Bogardus was licensed to preach in 
1 88 1, and was intending at the time to become a mission- 
ary in Japan, and took a course of medical study with that 
end in view. At the end of that course he was prevailed 
upon to remain in this country and take a position in the 
Hospital for the Ruptured and Crippled in New York city, 
in which place he remains to-day. 

Others from this class are now occupying positions of 
usefulness in the church. Walter A. Drinkwater, now one 
of the deacons of this church and a teacher of this Sunday- 
school, was a pupil in this class, also Stephen A. Peene, who 
is now a teacher in the school. Many from this class have 
become communicants in the church. 

Two sons of the pastor, J. WycofT Cole and Frank 
Howard Cole, Charles Howard Bertholf, Herbert R. Fre- 
denburgh, and many others whose names cannot be re- 
called, have been among the number. 

Miss Adelia E. Hoyt, who recently passed to her heav- 
enly reward, was connected with this school for a period of 
forty-two years. 

Miss Helen A. Rollins, from this school, stands high 
on the honorary roll of Sunday-school teachers in Yonkers 
for her long and faithful service in the work. 

The school has always manifested a deep interest in 
the temperance cause and many of its teachers have been 
prominent in advancing the work in Yonkers. Miss Helen 
A. Rollins, Miss Mary Berwick, and the writer were among 
the founders of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union 
of Yonkers, which was organized March 22, 1878. John 
Pagan was also prominent in the organization of the prohi- 
bition movement in Yonkers, and has been nominated for 
several offices on the prohibition ticket. 

" On several occasions during the pastorate of Dr. Cole 



148 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

large accessions have been received into the church from 
the Sunday-school ; and more than one-third of all received 
into the communion of the church by profession since Dr. 
Cole's pastorate, have come from the Sunday-school. It has 
had its times of coldness and fruitlessness, but it has also 
had its years of abundant blessing and large fruitage. 
During the year 1870 sixteen, the year 1874 thirty, the year 
1878 twenty-three, and the year 1887 thirty-five from this 
school, were received into the communion of the church. 

The number of pupils received into the church from 
the school and the Ludlow Street Mission School from 
1887 to 1889 was fifty-six. 

The school is self-supporting. It has supported a Bible- 
reader, Abram Williams, for more than twenty years at an 
expense of $100 per year. The contributions for benevo- 
lence in 1888 were $160. 

Number on roll-book April, 1891, of officers, teachers, 
and scholars, 256. 

Hyatt L. Garrison, ex-superintendent of the Reformed 
Church Sunday-school, was elected a member of the Exec- 
utive Committee of the Westchester County Sunday-school 
Teachers' Association, which was organized at Tarrytown, 
N. Y., November 19, 1889. 

A new library, the gift of the congregation on Christ- 
mas, 1888, was presented to the school, and the old library 
was donated to a school in the West. The present num- 
ber of volumes is 425. 

The International Lesson Quarterly is used, and the 
papers distributed are the publications of David C. Cook 
Publishing Company. The singing-book is " Pilgrim 
Songs." 

The Superintendents of this school as far as can be 
ascertained have been : Lemuel Watts Wells, the first su- 
perintendent, Charles W. Baird, Anson B. Hoyt, Joseph H. 
Jennings, Anson B. Hoyt, John K. Myers, Gustavus A. 
Rollins, Anson B. Hoyt, Joseph H. Palmer, Walter Under- 
bill, Dr. Gabriel P. Reevs, Anson B. Hoyt, James Stewart, 
George Stewart, Hyatt L. Garrison, and Christian F. Tiet- 
jen, Charles E. See elected in 1888, and W. A. Drinkwater 
elected May, 1891. 



THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 1 49 

The officers of trie school, January, 1887, were; Chris- 
tian F. Tietjen, Superintendent ; Virgil Myers, First As- 
sistant ; George Stewart, Second Assistant ; Joseph Hover, 
Secretary; William M. Dick, Treasurer; Henry Pagan, 
Librarian ; Edward R. Cole, Assistant Librarian. 

The officers of the school January, 1890, were : Charles 
E. See, Superintendent ; Walter A. Drinkwater, first As- 
sistant Superintendent ; Miss Marion Stewart, second Assist- 
ant Superintendent, in charge of the Infant Department ; 
Le Grand W. Ketcham, Treasurer ; William A. Wiggins, 
Secretary ; Edward R. Cole, Librarian ; Alden C. Tomp- 
kins and John P. Radcliff, Jr., Assistant Librarians. 

Officers and teachers of the Sunday-school elected for 
year, May i, 1891, are as follows: 

Superintendent - Mr. W. A Drinkwater. 

First Assistant Superintendent - Mr. John Pagan. 
Second " " Miss Marion Stewart. 

Secretary - Mr. W. A. Wiggins. 

Assistant Secretary - Mr. C. F. Walters. 

Treasurer Mr. Le Grand W. Ketcham. 

Librarian - - Mr. A. C. Tompkins. 

First Assistant Librarian - - Mr. E. R. Cole. 

Second " " - Dr. H. Winthrop Bertholf. 

TEACHERS. 

Miss H. A. Rollins, Miss M. Y. Kellock, 

Miss Phcebe Palmer, Mr. John Pagan, 

Miss J. R. Doren, Mr. Virgil Myers, 

Miss Mary Berwick. Mr. R. J. Dick, 

Miss Carrie J. Bowler, Mr. George Stewart, 

Miss Jean B. Archibald, Mr. John P. Radcliff, Jr. 

Miss Agnes Mitchell, Mr. H. L. Garrison, 

Miss Edith A. Doren, Mr. George J. Ord, 
Mr. Martin Blauvelt. 

PRIMARY DEPARTMENT. 

Miss Marion Stewart, Superintendent ; Miss Mary Stewart, Assistant. 



150 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 



CHAPTER VII. 

ST. MARY'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH, PARISH, AND 
SUNDAY-SCHOOL* 

The first record of any religious service of the Roman- 
catholic Church in Yonkers is about 1836-9, at which time 
the Rev. James Cummiskey began his ministrations among 
the workmen who were engaged in the construction of the 
Croton aqueduct from Sing Sing to New York. Many of 
the laborers on the bridge over the Sawmill River — now the 
Nepperhan River — occupied the adjacent uplands which be- 
longed to Anthony Archer, Sr. A building in the neighbor- 
hood of where Summit Street now runs, between the aque- 
duct and the river, was set apart for religious service and 
became the first Catholic Chapel in Yonkers, and here Rev. 
James Cummiskey heard the confessions and said mass for 
the people. Father Cummiskey won the respect of all 
whom he met, and people especially welcomed his coming 
when dissensions among the laborers occurred, as they 
sometimes did. 

He continued his services among the Roman-catholics 
of Yonkers until the completion of the aqueduct, after which 
he left Yonkers, and the few Catholics who remained were 
dependent on such neighboring missions as they could reach. 
In the autumn of 1 847 work was begun on the construction 
of the Hudson River Railroad through Yonkers. Thomas 
C. Cornell was appointed a civil engineer of this work, 
and the Rev. John Ryan, S. J., one of the professors of 
Fordham College, and later the first president of St. Xavier 
College in the city of New York, was charged with the mis- 
sion among the laborers. Before the end of the year he 
made it a rule to say mass at Yonkers every Sunday and to 
hear confessions on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. 

The first mass was held in a dwelling-house near George 
Morgan's Dye Works, not far from where Nepperhan 

* For the most of the facts in this chapter the writer is indebted to 
" The Beginnings of the Roman-catholic Church in Yonkers," written by 
Thomas C. Cornell, and published in 1883. 



ST. MARY'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. 151 

Avenue crosses the Sawmill River, Hugh Donoghue serving 
the mass and Thomas C. Cornell being one of the worship- 
pers. Mr. Morgan offered the use of a store-room belong- 
ing to his ofhce, where the little congregation shared the 
space with boxes of logwood waiting shipment. 

In 1848 Ethan Flagg erected the first three-story brick 
building in Yonkers. It stood on the corner of Palisade 
Avenue (then Factory Street) and New Main Street (then 
Mechanic Street) and the upper floor was hired for Father 
Ryan's Sunday services during the summer and autumn 
of 1848. 

The same year Father Ryan thought the time had come 
to build a Roman-catholic church in Yonkers. Judge Wood- 
worth offered to give the land for a Catholic church where 
St. Mary's now stands, and the offer was accepted by Father 
Ryan. The lot deeded was 85 feet front on South Street, as 
it was named in the deed, 135 feet deep, and 164 feet wide 
along Judge Vark's line in the rear. The name of South 
Street was changed to St. Mary's Street as soon as the 
name proposed for the new church was known. It was 
understood that the three partners in the fifty-acre tract 
had agreed among themselves to give land for three church- 
es, Judge Woodworth to the Catholics, and Messrs. Rich 
and Scrymser to the Presbyterians and the Baptists, but as 
the latter part of this plan was never carried out, the land 
deeded to Bishop Hughes, in the summer of 1848, was really 
the joint gift of these three gentlemen. 

Soon after obtaining the land Father Ryan procured 
plans for a church from Patrick C. Keely, an architect of 
considerable reputation and who built a great number of the 
best Catholic churches in the United States, one of which 
is St. Francis Xavier in New York, and St. Mary's Church 
was built in conformity with these plans. The dimensions 
of the church were 40 by 70 feet, with a small sacristy, 
1 3 by 23 feet, in the rear, and enough of the lower part of the 
brick- work of the tower in front to make an entrance porch. 

The building seemed so large in proportion to the needs 
of the congregation that Thomas C. Cornell, with the con- 
sent of Father Ryan, went to Bishop Hughes to urge a 
smaller church. The Bishop said that the plan ought 



152 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

rather to be larger than smaller. " I have always found,'* 
said he, " the numbers as well as the ability of such missions 
to exceed first anticipations." Father Ryan wished the 
church to be dedicated " to the Blessed Virgin Mary, con- 
ceived without sin," and it is hence called either the Church 
of the Immaculate Conception, or St. Mary's, at pleasure. 

A contract for the mason-work was made with Peter F. 
Peek, in 1848, for $2,045, which with the extras increased 
to about $2,200, and of this sum Mr. Peek agreed to give 
one year's credit for $400, and in addition it was provided 
that in case the money could not be collected, work could be 
stopped at anytime on paying for the portion actually done. 
But the money did not fail, and a contract was made with 
William H. Hanlon to put on the roof, lay the floors, and 
put in doors for $1,065, which with some extras amounted 
to $1,200. The work was completed in December, and the 
windows were boarded up, with here and there an old sash 
to let in the light. Sashes were put in the vestry and some 
rude board benches were made in the church, a couple of 
stoves were set up, and thus, with brick walls and no ceil- 
ing, Father Ryan gave his congregation their Christmas 
mass of 1848 in their own church. 

Collections were made by Father Ryan and by Thomas 
C. Cornell and others, most of it in sums of fifty cents to one 
dollar. The contributors from Yonkers, not a few of whom 
were not Catholics, included many names still remembered. 
Moses H. Grinnell, then living here, was one of the most 
liberal, giving $25. Among the others were Judge William 
W. Scrugham, Prince W. Paddock, Thomas W. Ludlow, S. 
W. Chambers, De Witt C. Kellinger, Levi P. Rose, Lispe- 
nard Stewart, W. F. Groshon, Thomas C. Cornell, Hugh 
Donoghue, C. M. Odell, Jacob Read, Edward F. Shonnard, 
Mr. Williams, John Chrisfield, John Mathews, John Moffat, 
and many others. 

The church walls remained unplastered, with no ceiling 
but the open roof, for nearly three years, and the only seats 
were rude board benches without backs, the men all sitting 
on the gospel side and the women on the epistle side, but in 
the summer of 1 846 enamelled glass windows were put in at 
a cost of $500, which however included a sanctuary rail. 



ST. MARYS ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. 1 53 

Judge Woodworth offered to pay the cost of the spire 
if the church would complete the brickwork of the tower, 
and this was done in the autumn of 1 849 at the cost of $600. 
In all these building contracts Father Ryan's building 
committee had been Judge Woodworth, Thomas C. Cornell, 
and Hugh Donoghue. At the end of 1 849 the church had 
cost, exclusive of land, S4>500- This was the portion of the 
church which now (February, 1887) li es i n the front of the 
transepts and remained thus unfinished until the autumn 
of 1851. 

Father Ryan organized a Sunday-school as soon as he 
could obtain a place to hold it. He taught the children 
himself, and from among the pupils of the Sunday-school 
who had voices for music he selected a number and taught 
them the elements of musical notation every Sunday after- 
noon when he could himself be present with them. The 
school met in the audience-room of the church and num- 
bered about fifty pupils. 

In September, 1850, the College of St. Francis Xavier 
was opened in Fifteenth Street, New York. Father Ryan 
was chosen its first president, and his duties there rendered 
it impossible for him to continue his mission at Yonkers. 

For a time, in 1850, Father Bienvenue attended the 
mission, coming from Fordham every Saturday evening 
and returning on Sunday evening. He attended the mis- 
sion Sundays and holy days from 1849 to 1850. He was 
succeeded by Rev. Father L. Jouin, S. J., who continued 
in charge from 1850 to 185 1. At the end of this year the 
congregation thought they were able to maintain a resi- 
dent pastor, and after consultation with the above mentioned 
lay committee, with the approval of Fathers Jouin and Ryan, 
Thomas C. Cornell made the request for a resident pastor 
to Archbishop Hughes, who promptly responded, and in 
July, 185 1, Rev. Thomas S. Preston, now the Right Rev- 
erend Monsignor Preston, holding the dignity of prelate 
of the papal household, arrived in Yonkers and took charge 
of the new parish. 

After Father Ryan became president of the College 
of St. Xavier in New York and gave up his Yonkers mission, 
his Sunday-school was continued with some intermissions 



154 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

by his successors. Father Jouin brought in lay teachers to 
assist him. There exists no contemporary record of Father 
Jouin's Sunday-school, and tradition can now recall among 
its teachers only the names of Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Cornell, 
Dr. Hugh Gartlan, and Hugh Donoghue. This school, num- 
bering less than a hundred pupils, Father Preston found at 
his coming in 1857. He preferred to have the religious 
teaching of the children in his own hands, and relieving the 
lay teachers taught the children himself on Sunday, after- 
noons. Sunday-schools under lay teachers do not seem to 
be entirely in accordance with Roman-catholic customs. 
Religious instruction comes from the priest or from the re- 
ligious orders who make teaching a duty. Hence perhaps 
one of the reasons why Catholics desire parish schools and 
teach religion in the lessons of every day. 

The church at Yonkers when Father Preston took 
charge was still in an unfinished condition. But by All 
Saints' Day it was finished, and on November 16, 185 1, 
Bishop Hughes blessed the church and gave confirmation. 
Several clergymen were present and the Rev. Arthur J. 
Donnelly, who afterwards became pastor of St. Michael's, 
New York, and is now one of the Vicars-General of the 
diocese, was master of ceremonies. After the service at the 
church Archbishop Hughes, Father Preston, Thomas C. 
Cornell, with two or three other friends of Judge Wood- 
worth, were invited to dine with him at his residence at 
Manor Hall. 

This school had been opened in the early spring of 1852 
in the basement of the dwelling-house still standing on the 
northwest corner of St. Mary's and Clinton Streets, with less 
than a dozen boys and girls together, and it did not exceed 
two dozen when first opened in the new schoolhouse. But 
a year later the number exceeded eighty, and when closed 
in March, 1854, there were ninety-two. 

At this time the Yonkers mission included Hastings, 
Dobbs Ferry, and Tarrytown. Father Ryan occasionally 
said mass at those places, and the Very Rev. Dr. Power, 
V. G., occasionally said mass at Hastings. Dr. Power died 
in April, 1849. After Father Preston's coming these mis- 
sions were regularly attended. There was no parochial 



ST. MARY'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. 155 

residence in Yonkers at that time, and Father Preston 
boarded as he could. 

In the summer of 1853 he ventured to build a house. 
He did not ask for much — a small parlor, a dining-room 
and a kitchen, with two bedrooms above, making a house 
less than twenty-five by thirty feet, which was built at a 
cost of about $2,200. The house was scarcely inclosed 
when in October, 1853, Father Preston was recalled by 
Archbishop Hughes to become his secretary. 

The congregation of St. Mary's with great regret heard 
the recall, and a delegation, among whom was Thos. C. Cor- 
nell, went down to the Archbishop to induce him to recon- 
sider the call. But the Archbishop promptly intimated that 
such petitions could not even be considered. " I must look 
on every side," he explained in a kindly way, " and must 
be left free to do what seems to me best for all." 

Father Preston's successor, in making his financial 
statement in assuming control of the parish, said that the 
record showed that during the two years and three months 
of Father Preston's pastoral charge in Yonkers he had 
drawn but $200 for his own salary and personal expenses. 
Father Preston was subsequently made Chancellor of the 
diocese, and has now long been Vicar-General and one of 
the Archbishop's council. 

Rev. John McMahon succeeded Father Preston and 
continued in charge from October, 1853, to May, 1854, and 
was succeeded by Rev. Eugene Maguire, who remained in 
charge from May, 1854, to February, 1856. The parish school 
had been discontinued for two months before he came and 
was not reopened during his stay, and the little school- 
house became the residence of the sexton. 

The Rev. Edward Lynch was appointed the next pastor 
of St. Mary's at Yonkers, on February 20, 1856, and contin- 
ued in charge until May, 1865. His assistants during his 
pastorate at St. Mary's Church were : Rev. S. A. Mullady, 
S. J., from January, 1859, to J ur y> J 86i ; Rev. Father Biretta, 
O. S. F., from 1861 to 1862; Rev. Patrick Brady, from 
January, 1863, to May, 1863; Rev. T. Byrne, June, 1864, to 
October, 1864; Rev. Wm. H. H. Oram, from October, 1864, 
until May, 1865. 



156 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The parish school had been discontinued for nearly two 
years. Father Lynch had been but two weeks in Yonkers 
when it was reopened in the small schoolhouse with twenty- 
two girls under Miss Josephine Dwight, and as many boys 
under James Webb. A few weeks later John J. Hughes, 
who afterwards became the pastor of St. Jerome's Church, 
Mott Haven, was put in charge of the boys, and the base- 
ment of the schoolhouse was fitted up for the girls, whose 
number increased to more than eighty during the year 
Miss Dwight remained with them. Father Ryan, in build- 
ing the church, did not wish to leave it possible to put any 
basement room under it, but Father Lynch found the want 
of such a room so great that he undertook it, and he placed 
stone piers under the floor with columns. This work cost 
about $600, and the boys removed to this room in 1857. 
John J. Hughes entering the college at Fordham, Mr. Reily 
took his place as teacher of the boys. From that year till 
1 860 the little schoolhouse was occupied by the girls under 
the care of the Sisters of Charity. 

The coming of the Sisters of Charity to Yonkers is an 
important event in the history of this church, and the cir- 
cumstances of their coming are as follows : the Mother House 
of the Sisters, near Fifth Avenue and One Hundred and 
Seventh Street, had been recently taken for Central Park, 
and another and larger place was required. A place on the 
Hudson River, between Tarrytown and New York, seemed 
desirable. Mother M. Angela, a sister of Archbishop 
Hughes, was at that time the Superior. She had been Sis- 
ter Angela in charge of St. Vincent's Hospital until the 
preceding December, 1865. At Mother Angela's request 
Thomas C. Cornell accompanied her and her secretary, 
Sister Willian Anna, in visiting and examining the places 
offered for sale on the Hudson. 

Mr. Cornell invited Mother Angela to visit the Forrest 
property. He had known the place and its owner for some 
years, and when Mr. and Mrs. Forrest were talking of build- 
ing, Mr. Forrest had intended to build on the point, since cut 
by the railroad, " a cluster of towers in the later Norman 
style." The present situation was selected and the castle 
completed. Before showing it to Mother Angela Mr. Cor- 



ST. MARYS ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. I 57 

nell sent for Mr. Forrest to come and see him, which he 
did. 

In the course of the interview Mr. Forrest said, " The 
place has cost me a hundred thousand dollars, and if the 
Sisters want it they can have it at cost, and I will make 
them a present of five thousand dollars towards the pur- 
chase." An appointment was made for him to meet Mother 
Angela on the ground. Mr. Forrest, not content with show, 
ing her the beauties of the place, the castle, the cottage, and 
the great stone barn, took her to the pond near the gate 
where the fish came to the shoals and ate bread out of his 
hand. 

At Mother Angela's request Archbishop Hughes, ac. 
companied by Mr. Cornell, looked over the place that he 
might advise her about the purchase. " This is the place,'' 
said the Archbishop, on seeing it. But on reaching the 
castle he added, " But that must come down." Second 
thought, however, preserved it as a residence for the Chap- 
lain. The purchase was consummated in December, 1856, 
and Mr. Forrest gave his certified check for $5,000 as his 
contribution. 

The title is in the name of the Sisters of Charity, a 
corporation organized under the laws of the State of New 
York. The foundation of the convent was begun in the 
spring of 1857, and the corner-stone of the chapel was laid 
by Archbishop Hughes September 8, 1857. In his address 
he claimed for the chapel the dignity of a parish church, 
and spoke with force of the far-reaching influence of the 
institution of which they were then laying the foundations. 
A small colony of sisters then occupied the castle, and in 
September of the same year two of them — Sister M. Chrys- 
ostom and Sister M. Winnefred — were put in charge of the 
girls' department of the parish school in Yonkers. Fa- 
ther Lynch provided a carriage to bring the Sisters to the 
school and to return them to their home every night. This 
was ten years before -the Sisters had their own house of St. 
Aloysius in Yonkers. 

Father Lynch thought the building of a new school- 
house his most important work, and in 1859 its erection Avas 
begun. The dimensions of the building were 50 by 55 feet, 



158 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL .WORK. 

with two stories, a basement and attic. It was completed 
in September, 1859. It cost, including furniture, about 
$10,000. 

Sisters Chrysostom and Winnefred remained in charge 
of the school till the death of Sister Chrysostom, January 
28, 1865. Sister Chrysostom was endowed with unusual 
intellectual gifts and was a most successful teacher. She 
is still held in loving honor by all who knew her, and 
although long ill with consumption, she continued to work 
faithfully until within a few weeks of her death. During 
her illness her place was supplied for over a year by Sis- 
ter Ambrosia, who subsequently was put in charge of the 
girls' protectory at Westchester, and is now Mother Superior 
of the Sisters of Charity in the diocese. 

Father Lynch put the Sisters with the girls on the first 
floor, and the boys on the second floor of the new school- 
house under the care of the Christian Brothers, and the 
third floor was fitted up for the brothers' dwelling. 

The Brothers' School was opened in September, 1871, 
under the care of Brother Clementin — now vice-president 
of Manhattan College — as director, with three assistants 
and about 1 50 boys. Mr. Riley's school in the basement 
of the church the preceding year numbered about 125 boys. 

The girls' school in the spring of 1857, before the 
coming of the sisters, had numbered about 83, but when 
Sisters Chrysostom and Winnefred came the number in- 
creased to above 100. When they moved into the new 
schoolhouse in September, i860, the girls numbered 135, 
and at the time of Sister Chrysostom 's death had reached 
155, making the whole school of boys and girls about three 
hundred. 

After the building of the schoolhouse the enlargement 
of the church was begun, and transepts, chancel, and vestry 
were added. In the original church there were but two 
aisles and 84 pews ; in the enlarged church there are three 
aisles and 162 pews on the floor and 34 in the gallery, and 
it will seat one thousand persons. The enlargement of the 
church was finished in the autumn of 1863 at the cost of 
$13,000. James and David Stewart did the mason work 
and Anthony Imhoff the carpenter work. 



ST. MARY'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. 1 59 

The parish work increased so largely that Father 
Lynch was obliged to call an assistant, who was Rev. S. A. 
Mullady (formerly of the Society of Jesus), who was his 
first assistant. Other assistants followed him. Father 
Lynch began to fail in health for nearly a year before his 
death, which occurred at the parochial residence May 5, 
1865, in the tenth year of his pastorate at Yonkers. He 
was much mourned by his people, who were devotedly 
attached to him. 

It was Father Lynch's habit to consult with his people 
about all of his undertakings. He mingled much among 
them and spoke freely of what he thought it might be best 
to do and of the reasons for it. He did not discuss matters 
with them to any extent, but rather stated his own wishes 
and hopes in a way not to invite objections. 

Whenever he met his people in their own homes, or 
by the way, he talked of things until they saw as he did, 
and then whatever he undertook the people were heartily 
with him. Outside of his church all whom he met respected 
and honored him. He interested himself in the local and 
public welfare, giving his influence to the side of the Gov- 
ernment from the breaking out of the war in 1861. 

He brought his people and the children of his schools 
to the great fair held in February, 1864 (in the then new 
building, now the Macfarlane silk factory, on James Street), 
in aid of the United States Sanitary Commission, and was 
one of the guests at the dinner which was given there by 
its friends to all the Yonkers clergymen. 

A little pamphlet, entitled ' 'Chronicles of Yonkers," 
was privately printed and sold for the benefit of this fair. 
It was beautifully printed on rose-tinted paper. Its author, 
then unknown, was Robert P. Getty. In this pamphlet a 
rhyming description was given of the clergymen of Yonkers, 
and Father Lynch was alluded to in the following lines : 

" St. Mary's good priest I know by repute, 
His zeal and devotion no one can dispute ; 
Be they Protestant or Catholic, the truth let me clinch, 
There are few better men than our own Father Lynch." 

Father Lynch was quiet and unostentatious in his 
manners and very simple in his way of living. Though 



l6o CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

possessed of means of his own, he was contented to live with 
his assistants and friends in the narrow accommodations 
of the parochial residence. He was a prudent financier, 
social in his feelings, and his kindly and gentle ways won 
for him many friends in Yonkers. When his funeral 
procession passed on the way to the railroad the bell of St. 
John's Episcopal Church was tolled. His remains were in- 
terred beside his parents and kindred in St. Agnes' Ceme. 
tery, Syracuse. 

The successor of Father Lynch was the Rev. Charles 
T. Slevin, who came to Yonkers in May, 1865. For two 
years he had no assistant. One of the first of Father Slevin's 
works was the erection, in 1866, of a white marble altar and 
tabernacle in place of the wooden altar in the church. In 
1867 the altar recess was beautified by three large paint- 
ings. 

Father Slevin also enlarged the parochial residence, 
making an addition to the front of the building and doub- 
ling the accommodations, at a cost of $10,000. 

The parish school was continued by Father Slevin as 
he found it. Sister Ann Cecilia and Sister M. Maurice 
conducted the girls' school, which numbered 155 children, 
and the Brothers had about 150 boys in 1865. The boys' 
school was discontinued in November, 1876, until it was 
reopened by Rev. Charles R. Corley, the successor of 
Father Slevin. 

Father Slevin's assistants were the following: Rev. 
Albert A. Lings (now pastor of St. Joseph's Church), from 
October 1867 to 1871 ; Rev. Bernard Goodwin, June, 1 871, to 
February, 1872; Rev. J. Byron, from February, 1872, to 
June, 1874. 

During this time Father Slevin's health had been so 
much impaired that he obtained leave of absence and 
went to Europe, hoping to regain his health by an ocean 
voyage and a brief visit to the Continent. The Rev. Ed- 
ward McKenna took his place as parish priest from Feb- 
ruary to October, 1873. Father Slevin returned with im- 
proved health and resumed his pastorate in October, 1873. 
Rev. Eugene McKenna assistant from June, 1874, to May 
1875 ; Rev. James W. Hays, May, 1875, for a short period. 



ST. MARY'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. i6l 

But before this, in October, 1874, Rev. Andrew O'Reilley 
"was made assistant and serves until the present date. 

Father Slevin's health continued to fail, and in June, 
1877, the Rev. Charles R. Corley was sent to supply the place. 
On the 1 8th of July, 1878, Rev. Charles T. Slevin, still hold- 
ing his pastorate, died among his relatives at North Easton, 
Mass. 

Father Slevin was the first pastor to have a paid choir 
at St. Mary's. He rebuilt the organ gallery, putting a 
larger and finer organ in place of the old one, which re- 
mains. He reduced the debt on the church from $18,000 to 
$12,000. During his pastorate two important events oc- 
curred in the history of the Catholic Church at Yonkers : 
first — the founding of St. Aloysius'* in 1868, and second 
the setting off of the new parish of St. Joseph's in 1871. 

The Sisters of Charity had frequently been solicited to 
take charge of small boys so young as still to need woman's 
care, and it was finally decided to open a boarding-school 
for that purpose. Thomas C. Cornell, in response to Mo- 
ther Jerome's inquiry for a suitable place, recommended 
the handsome property formerly occupied by Judge Aaron 
Vark, on South Broadway. It was accordingly purchased 
by the corporation of the Sisters of Charity, in November, 
1868, for $42,000. It comprised four and a half acres of land 
on the highest ground in that neighborhood. Important 
additions have been made, making the property of high 
value. 

The institution has been successful and has always 
been filled with pupils. Its chief importance and influence, 
however, have been in bringing to Yonkers a community 
of Sisters of Charity. Sister Ann Cecilia was made the 
first Sister Superior of the institution, to which was given 
the name of the Academy St. Aloysius, and its doors were 
opened to its little proteges in December, 1868. 

From that date it became the home of the Sisters teach- 
ing in the parish school. For the preceding eleven years 
they had in all weather gone through the two miles' jour- 

* On Sunday, Christmas morning, 1887, at half-past one o'clock, St. 
Aloysius' Academy on South Broadway was almost totally destroyed by 
an accidental fire. 

Church and Sunday school Work. T T 



l62 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

ney from the convent to the school in the morning and 
returned in the evening every school-day and to the Sun- 
day-school on Sundays. The- Sisters delight to tell of the 
kindness and thoughtfulness, during these years, of Mrs. 
M. W. Rooney, who sent them, from her home on South 
Broadway and Prospect Street, every day a hot dinner for 
their noon recess. 

Sister Mary Pius succeeded Sister Ann Cecilia in the 
charge of St. Aloysius' in April, 1871. The sisters at the 
parish school are Sisters Maria Magdalena, M. Germana, 
Agnes Loyola, M. Myra, and Frances Clara. Sister M. 
Arsenia is now at the head of the parish school. 

The present parish priest of St. Mary's is Rev. Charles 
Raymond Corley, who has been pastor since 1877. He was 
born on St. Raymond's Day in 1848, received his classi- 
cal education at St. Xavier College, New York, entered 
the Provincial Theological Seminary, was ordained by 
Bishop McQuaid in 1871, and in June of that year was sent 
to St. Mary's, Rondout, where he was assistant for two years. 
In July, 1873, he was sent to St. Peter's, New York, as one 
of the assistants of Father Farrell, now Bishop of Trenton, 
where he remained until the Archbishop sent him to Yon- 
kers in June, 1877. 

Father Corley s assistants have been Rev. Edward 
Sweeny for a short time in 1877 ; Rev. Michael Montgom- 
ery, 1880 to 1 88 1. The latter assisted during the temporary 
illness of Father Corley. And since 1884 Rev. James F. 
McLoughlin has also been an assistant. Rev. Andrew 
O'Reilley, D. D., who was assistant when Father Corley 
came to the parish, has with Father Corley done almost all 
the pastoral work of St. Mary's for the past five years and 
more. 

The parish school was one of Father Corley 's first cares 
in coming to Yonkers, and he reopened the boys' depart- 
ment again under the Christian Brothers. Rev. Brother 
Elwaren, in September, 1877, was made principal. He had 
three assistants, his boys' department numbering 215. 

Brother Alexis succeeded Brother Elwaren as director 
in September, 1881, and Brother Abel was put in charge in 
September, 1882, with Brothers Alphanus John. Aloysius, 



ST. MARY'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. 1 63 

and Francis as assistants, with 313 boys in the classes. 
John M. Flood was also one of the assistant teachers. 

Father Corley, on his coming to Yonkers, found Sister 
Martina in charge of the 300 girls of that department. In 
September, 1878, she was succeeded by Sister Maria Magde- 
lina, and under her administration the school was marked 
by great ability and success. She was assisted by Miss 
Maggie M. Hynes and several others. 

The girls' department is now in charge of Sister M. Ar- 
senia and the boys' department of the school is in charge of 
Rev. Brother Dennis, with three Brothers as assistants. In 
January, 1884, the two schools numbered nearly 800 pupils. 

The Sodalities of the parish school are as follows : St. 
Aloysius Society of Boys, Holy Angels of Girls, and Society 
of the Holy Infant. The number of children on the parish 
school-book was 835, and at the free school of Mount St. 
Vincent, in this parish, 100; at St. Aloysius Academy 30, 
in 1888. So that in the parish of St. Mary's there were in 
1888, 965 children enjoying Catholic education without ex- 
pense to the city or State. The number of girls attending 
the parish school in November, 1890, was 425. The num- 
ber of boys was 410. 

In the year 1885 the building for the parish school 
erected by Rev. Father Lynch in 1 860 was greatlv enlarged 
at a cost of about $20,000. The building is three stories in 
height and has a frontage of 123 feet on St. Mary's Street, 
with a depth of 53 feet. 

The record of the marriages and baptisms in St. Mary's 
church during the following years reads thus : 



Baptisms. Marriages. 

1882 - - 162. T882 



50. 



1883 - - 152. 1883 - " 34- 

1884 - - 168. 1884 - - 38. 

1885 - - 197. 1885 - - 45. 

The present membership is six thousand. 

St. Mary's Church has several societies. The Sodality 
of the Sacred Heart in 1883 numbered 600 members. The 
Confraternity of the Living Rosary of the Blessed Virgin 
Mary had a membership of 350, and the Children of St. 
Mary over 100. The church has also a Ladies' Temperance 



164 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Society, a Young Men's Temperance Lyceum, and the Im- 
maculate Conception Total Abstinence Society. 

The officers of the Young Men's Temperance Society 
for the year 1890 were : John Hennesey, President ; Corne- 
lius Coughlin, Recording Secretary ; Maurice Connery, Fi- 
nancial Secretary ; Dennis Muldoon, Corresponding Secre- 
tary ; Dennis Murray, Treasurer ; James McGrath, Sergeant- 
at-Arms. 

The financial statement of the Church of the Immacu- 
late Conception for the year 1890 shows receipts of $38,- 
990 15; loan, $21,036 32; total, $60,026 47. All of this sum 
was expended, $48,045 being paid on the new church. 

The entire amount paid on the new edifice is $56,- 
341 60. The debt of the church is $21,036 32, and there is 
$63,000 worth of insurance. 

Rev. Charles R. Corley, rector, is the treasurer ; John F. 
Flood, accountant. The auditors were Michael Dee and 
John J. Devitt. 

St. Mary's parish is one of fourteen in the Archdiocese 
of New York that has been honored by making its Rector 
immovable ; that is, he cannot be changed unless tried and 
convicted of some misdemeanor by an ecclesiastical court. 
In all the other parishes, of which there are over one hun- 
dred and thirty with resident pastors, the Archbishop, of 
his own volition, with or without cause, can remove the 
rector or pastor. The immovable rectors have a voice in 
selecting the Bishop of a Diocese when there is a vacancy. 

Rev. Charles R. Corley, who became rector in 1877, still 
continues in charge of St. Mary's Church, winning the re- 
spect of all with whom he comes in contact by his scholarly 
attainments and gentle bearing. He has succeeded in 
clearing the property from debt. During his rectorship a 
new church edifice was begun, the completion of which 
is expected to be in the fall of 1891. 

The new church building is located on the 175 by 200 
feet lot at the northwest corner of South Broadway and St. 
Mary's Street. The building is of stone, and will have 
a seating capacity of 1 ,400. There is a chapel wing to the 
church, capable of holding 150 to 200. The cost of the 
building will be $125,000, without the tower, which will be 



ST. MARY'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. 165 

near the centre on St. Mary's Street. The style of architec- 
ture is Rounded Arched Gothic. The architect is Lawrence 
J. O'Connor, of New York. The church when completed 
will be the finest and most costly Catholic church in this 
Diocese outside of New York city. 

On Sunday, May 4, 1890, the blessing and laying of the 
corner-stone of the new church took place ; Rt. Rev. Mon- 
signor Preston officiated. The sermon was preached by 
Very Rev. Joseph F. Mooney. 

The number of baptisms in 1889 was 258. The number 
of marriages was 5 1 . 

The attendance at the various masses celebrated in St. 
Mary's Church on Sunday amounts to five thousand peo- 
ple. The number of persons confirmed during the pastor- 
ate of Rev. Charles R. Corley to the present date, 1888, is 
1,532. 

The present choir is composed of Miss Mary Schaeffer, 
soprano ; Miss Eliza Kiley, alto ; J. N. Craft, tenor ; and 
Adolph Schaeffer, bass, with a chorus of twenty -three 
voices. The organist is Prof. Bernard E. Johnston. 

Joseph Hagan is the present sexton of St. Mary's 
Church, and Michael Moran is the sexton of St. Mary's Cem- 
etery. The former has occupied the present place over six 
years. 

Saint Joseph's Hospital, which was erected in 1889 on 
South Broadway on the site formerly occupied by St. Aloy- 
sius Academy, was the carrying out of a project that first 
saw light in 1878, when the Sisters of Charity obtained a 
charter from the Legislature for the purpose. 

St. Joseph's Hospital was formally opened on Wednes- 
day, March 19, 1890. It is under the management of the 
Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Sister Ann Aloy- 
sia being the Sister-in-Charge, and is attended by the priests 
of the church. 

The medical staff of St. Joseph's Hospital is as follows : 
Dr. P. A. Callen, President ; Dr. N. A. Warren, Secretary ; 
Drs. Valentine Browne and Samuel Swift, Consulting Phy- 
sicians ; Drs. A. C. Benedict and P. A. Callen, Consulting 
Surgeons ; Drs. E. M. Hermance, John H. Seabury, E. E. 
Colton, and J. T. Gibson, Visiting Physicians ; Drs. P. H. 



1 66 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Pyne, Henry Moffat, E. I. Harrington, and N. A. Warren, 
Visiting Surgeons. 

The following is a printed report of St. Mary's Sunday- 
school in the centennial year, April i, 1876. 

" The Sunday-school connected with the Church of the 
Immaculate Conception on St. Mary's Street, of which Rev. 
Father Slevin is pastor, is under the charge of the Chris- 
tian Brothers and Sisters of Charity, and has a very large 
attendance. 

" The following statistics are those of the male depart- 
ment only ; those of the female department failed to reach 
us in time for publication. Teachers 3, scholars on register 
250, average attendance 200, largest attendance 235, number 
in primary department 1 10, number of deaths 4, volumes 
in library 200." 

The teachers are Brothers Simplican, Ireeneno, and 
Edmund. The number of pupils contained in the Sunday- 
school connected with St. Mary's Church, with those who 
came from Mt. St. Vincent was nearly 1,000 in January, 

1889. The Sunday-school is under the charge of four Chris- 
tian Brothers, five Sisters of Charity, and three lay teach- 
ers. 

The number of pupils in Sunday-school in January, 

1890, was 1,000. •• 

In this school the Catechism of Christian Doctrine is 
taught, which catechism was ordered by the Third Plenary 
Council of Baltimore. Having been compiled and exam- 
ined, it was approved by Archbishop Gibbons, of Baltimore, 
apostolic delegate, April 6, 1885. Also of which imprima- 
ture was given by John, Cardinal McCloskey, Archbishop 
of New York, at New York, April 6, 1885. The Catholic 
hymn-book is also used and instruction explanatory of the 
catechism is given. Two sessions are held, in the morning 
at nine o'clock and in the afternoon at two o'clock. 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 167 



CHAPTER VIII. 

THE WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH AND SUNDAY- 
SCHOOL. 

The following" interesting and important facts con- 
cerning the organization of the First Baptist Church in 
Yonkers are gathered from several of the early members 
of the church and from a pamphlet which was prepared 
and published by a committee appointed by the church 
June 30J 1869. 

"At a meeting held May 14, 1849, at the residence of 
Benjamin F. Crane on Ashburton Avenue (now the north- 
east corner of Ashburton Avenue and Locust Hill Avenue) 
Rev. D. Henry Miller (now Rev. Dr. Miller) offered a reso- 
lution that a Baptist church be organized. The resolution 
was adopted, and seven persons enrolled themselves as 
members that evening, viz : Peter F. Peek and his wife 
Abbie J. Peek, Benjamin F. Crane and his wife Emeline 
Crane, George Van Ness, Elias Whipple, and Rev. D. 
Henry Miller. A week later the following persons were 
added to the membership roll : Mrs. Lucy E. Miller, wife 
of Rev. D. Henry Miller, Mrs. Mary Miller, the mother of 
Rev. D. Henry Miller, A. C. Van Ness, Jonathan Odell 
and his wife, Mrs. Rosina Whipple, Miss Amelia Minnerly, 
and Mrs. M. A. Chambers. 

" Rev. D. Henry Miller was the first pastor of the 
church, and preached his first sermon to his congregation 
in Flagg's Hall. May 23, 1849, the new organization was 
formally recognized by a council of members and dele- 
gates from neighboring churches." 

Evening meetings were held by this little company 
and others some time previous to the above date. The 
first Baptist prayer-meeting was held at the residence of 
Peter F. Peek on Tuesday evening, March 5, 1847. At 
that meeting there were eleven persons present. The first 
sermon preached to a Baptist audience was by Rev. John 
Dowling, D. D., a Baptist clergyman of New York city. 
This service was held at Mr. Peek's residence in August, 



l68 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

1847. The text was, " Weeping may endure for a night r 
but joy cometh in the morning." Psa. 30: 5. 

A few days after the organization of the church, steps 
were taken towards collecting funds for the erection of a 
church building. A series of lectures and public readings 
was given for this object. Edwin Forrest, of Forrest 
Castle, now Mount St. Vincent, gave a reading from Shake- 
speare in the Getty Lyceum in the Getty House, in March, 
1853, offering his services gratuitously. It was the only 
public reading he ever gave. The receipts of that even- 
ing's entertainment were $200, a large amount for an 
entertainment of that character in Yonkers at that time. 
Other readings followed this, and from these public efforts 
quite a handsome sum was raised for the church building 
fund, and a lot was secured on North Broadway — now oc- 
cupied by Temperance Hall, which was erected by the 
Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Yonkers — and 
the building was begun. The corner-stone was laid Octo- 
ber 24, 1850, and the work prospered and prospects were 
bright for the early completion of the church. 

The following incident is related in connection with 
the building of the church. One day in the early spring- 
time, Peter F. Peek, one of the prominent leaders of this 
enterprise, in company with the Rev. John Dowling, D. D., 
was crossing the Hudson River in a rowboat. Suddenly 
the sky became overcast, the wind blew, and the waves 
dashed against the little boat, which interrupted the 
pleasant conversation in which they were engaged about 
the new church enterprise. As the wind and waves be- 
came contrary, Dr. Dowling said to his companion, " Dea- 
con Peek, you take one oar and we will call that work, and 
I will take the other oar and we will call that faith," where- 
upon he took the oar and the honored clergyman and the 
good deacon did their work nobly, and notwithstanding 
the wind and tide, which were both against them, in due 
time they reached the shore in safety. Was their experi- 
ence prophetic of future events ? 

Not many days after this occurrence there came a 
great wind which blew down the rear wall of the church 
building then in course of erection. This unexpected 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 



169 



catastrophe furnished a theme for their young preacher 
for a discourse, and the next Sunday morning he preached 
a sermon from these words found in Ezek. 13 : 10, 1 1 : " One 
built up a wall, and lo, others daubed it with untempered 
mortar," etc. The preacher, after alluding briefly to the 
building of the church and the event which had recently 




MOUNT OLIVET BAPTIST CHURCH.* 

transpired, concluded his discourse with an earnest exhor- 
tation to his hearers to remember that they were all build- 

* The engraving shows the first home of the Baptists in Yonkers, 
which was situated on North Broadway between Dock Street and 
Wells Avenue on the lots where the Temperance Hall now stands. 
Upon the completion of the new church building known as the War- 
burton Avenue Baptist Church, the old church was taken down and the 
materials in it used for the erection of the Nepperhan Avenue Baptist 
Mission Sunday-school building. 



I70 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

ers who were rearing each the fabric of his own life. 
Every day the walls of the fabric were rising higher and 
higher. He exhorted them to see to it that what they 
builded should be silver, gold, and precious stones, that 
might last and shine for ever — not the wood, hay, and 
stubble of vanity and worldliness, which must all perish in 
the fire. 

At length, after the persistent and persevering efforts 
of the brave band of faithful workers, the building was 
completed and dedicated in 1852. It was a brick structure, 
52 by 63 feet, with a square tower on the southeasterly 
corner 60 feet high. On this tower was a white marble 
tablet bearing this inscription, "Mount Olivet Baptist 
Church. Erected to the Triune God, 1852." The building 
contained a basement which could accommodate about 200 
persons, and the main audience-room and the small end 
gallery had seating capacity for nearly 400 persons. 

One of the many interesting meetings held in this 
church in the year 1858 is thus referred to in the journal 
of the late Rev. Robert Kirkwood : 

" I attended a deeply interesting all-day prayer-meeting 
held in the Mount Olivet Baptist Church. It was a union 
meeting of the various churches in our village. The 
morning service was peculiarly impressive ; the Holy Spirit 
with his all-powerful and all-pervading influences seems to 
be moving the hearts of the unconverted in our midst. 
The work of grace appears to have begun among the 
young people and children of the Sunday-schools. It was 
very interesting to hear the testimony of the young con- 
verts in prayer and exhortation, telling of their newly 
found joy and peace in the Saviour. Religion is the theme 
among those who hitherto have been uninterested in the 
all-important subject. As the meeting was dismissed 
many seemed almost unwilling to leave the church, appar- 
ently held by an irresistible and invisible power, and little 
groups lingered in the aisles and at the church door, talk- 
ing earnestly about the salvation of their friends and 
neighbors who are out of Christ. The interest on the sub- 
ject of vital religion seems to be increasing, and the reli- 
gious press is teeming with accounts of extensive revivals 






WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 171 

throughout the churches of our land. May the great Head 
of the Church bestow upon the beloved pastors and their 
dear people in our village his richest blessing, and permit 
them to experience in greater measure the gracious in- 
fluence of the blessed Holy Spirit !" 

The following persons were the members of the choir 
in the Mount Olivet Church : James Youmans, George Van 
Ness, Abram B. Mead, William Wittemore, Mrs. Sarah 
Mead, Mrs. John A. East, Miss Turner (late Mrs. B. Leeds), 
Mrs. Charles T. Mercer, Miss W. Whipple, and Miss Sarah 
Hallet (now Mrs. William N. Bailey). Miss Ella Youmans 
was the organist. 

In the year 1863 the building of a new church was 
talked of among a few of the members of this church, but 
no active or general movement looking towards this object 
was made until the regular church meeting held on Octo- 
ber 2, 1867, which was the date of the first formal proposi- 
tion and church action. Months previous to this, however, 
and in anticipation of the acceptance by the church of the 
formal offer, the lots had been purchased; and several 
weeks before the above date the plans had been drawn, 
the main contracts had been awarded, and ground had 
been broken. 

At that meeting a communication in regard to this 
subject was read by the pastor, Rev. A. J. F. Behrends 
(now Rev. Dr. Behrends), to the congregation, from John 
B. Trevor and James B. Colgate, and was as follows : 

To the Mount Olivet Baptist Church, Yonkers. 

Dear Brethren: — Feeling a deep interest in the 
advancement of the cause of Christ, and under obligations 
to him for many blessings, and as expressive of our love 
for him and for the Church which he has purchased with 
his own blood, we propose to erect and give to you a 
church edifice (according to the plans herewith submitted^, 
with the ground, being about 218 feet on Ashburton Av- 
enue, and 204 feet, more or less, on Warburton Avenue, 
besides an additional piece adjoining the easterly side, 
50 by 100 feet, free from all debt, on the following con* 
ditions : 



172 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

i. The church, on entering into possession, is to be 
known as the " Warburton Avenue Baptist Church," in- 
stead of " Mount Olivet Baptist Church." 

2. The church is to relinquish to the undersigned all 
its rights, titles, etc. (if it have any), to the eight lots on 
the northerly side of the Manor House property. 

3. The church shall not encumber with debt or sell 
the said property, and it is distinctly agreed between us 
that it is to be used as a Baptist place of worship for all 
time. 

4. The church is to use the said building and grounds 
for no other purpose than those of a religious character, 
all meetings of a political or secular character being for- 
bidden to be held on the premises. 

5. The church is to raise the sum of ten thousand dol- 
lars in cash, which is to be spent in furnishing the new 
edifice, under the direction of the architect, E. L. Roberts, 
Esq.; and should there be any surplus, it is to be spent 
towards paying for an organ to be used in said building. 

6. In case of any dispute arising hereafter as to what 
is a Baptist church, it is to be settled by the creed of the 
present church, in which its doctrines are fully set forth. 

Should the church agree to accept the property on the 
above conditions, and instruct its trustees to receive the 
same, we agree to deposit in the hands of F. A. Coe, Esq., 
of Yonkers, a deed, to be held by him in trust, and to be 
.surrendered to your trustees on these conditions being 
fully complied with. 

Hoping the above propositions will meet with your 
approval, and be favored with the blessing of God, we are, 
dear brethren, 

Very truly yours, 

John B. Trevor. 
James B. Colgate. 

The communication was referred to a committee, con- 
sisting of Brothers Edward Bright, P. F. Peek, and Isaac 
G. Johnson, -who submitted the following report, whose 
appended resolutions were unanimously and heartily 
adopted : 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 1 73 

The committee, to whom was referred the communica- 
tion of Brothers John B. Trevor and James B. Colgate, is 
profoundly impressed with the generous and noble work 
they propose to do, and the reasonableness of all the condi- 
tions upon which the church is to accept the gift. Such 
a church edifice as they intend to build at their own ex- 
pense will be more than impressive, and delightful evidence 
of the estimation in which they hold their Christian and 
denominational convictions ; it will also prove to be, as 
your committee believes, an inestimable blessing to the 
community in which it is to be located and to the cause of 
evangelical truth throughout the world. For it is to be, 
from generation to generation, the spiritual home of a 
living church of Jesus Christ, and such a church is every- 
where and always the best and most potent conservative 
force in the world. 

The Christian men and women here assembled should, 
therefore, accept this munificent gift of their brethren with 
fervent gratitude to God and with no other thought or 
purpose than to regard it as a perpetual argument for the 
existence of a living, united, and aggressive church within 
its walls — a church that shall evermore hold to and hold 
forth the truth as it is in Christ Jesus ; the truth as he, 
and those whom he personally instructed, held and illustra- 
ted it. 

The committee recommend, therefore, the adoption of 
these resolutions : 

Resolved, That in the spirit of the sentiment herein 
expressed, and in the hope of the fullest realization of 
all the blessings herein intimated, this Church does hereby 
express its profound gratitude to God for the timely, mu- 
nificent, and noble gift proposed by Brothers John B. Tre- 
vor and James B. Colgate. 

Resolved, That the Trustees of the Church and Society 
be, and they are hereby, requested and instructed to accept 
the conditions on which Brothers Trevor and Colgate pro- 
pose to transfer the deed of the new church edifice, and to 
take the necessary measures to carry into prompt and com- 
plete effect every condition named in their communication. 

Resolved, That a copy of this report be communicated 



174 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

to Brothers Colgate and Trevor, individually, by the pastor 

and clerk of the church. 

EDWARD BRIGHT, 
PETER F. PEEK, 
ISAAC G. JOHNSON. 

The corner-stone of the new church was laid with 
appropriate services April n, 1868. The pastor of the 
church, Rev. A. J. F. Behrends, was assisted in the ser- 
vices by the Rev. U. T. Tracy, rector of St. Paul's Epis- 
copal Church, Rev. M. D'C. Crawford, pastor of the First 
Methodist Church, Rev. Dr. Cole, pastor of the Reformed 
Church, Rev. D. M. Seward, D. D., pastor of the First 
Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Lewis W. Mudge (now 
Rev. Dr. Mudge), of the Westminster Presbyterian Church. 

This church is located on rising ground on the south- 
west corner of Ashburton and Warburton Avenues,* and 
from the latter it derives its name. It is built of Belleville 
freestone of a handsome brown color, and the roof is of the 
best quality of slate. 

The length of the building, including the two-story 
chapel in the rear, is 1 54 feet, and its width in front 90 feet. 
The chapel is 90 by 36 feet. The main tower and spire are 
on the southwesterly corner. This spire is an attractive 
feature of the church, and is a handsome specimen of archi- 
tectural work. It is 160 feet high and is surmounted by a 
beautiful stone cross. 

On the southeast corner is an octagon tower 60 feet 
high. The architecture of the church is Romanesque or 
rounded arched. The main audience-room is 80 by 60 feet, 
with galleries on both sides, and an organ-loft opposite the 
pulpit. The church has a seating capacity of twelve hun- 
dred, and is the largest church in the city. 

The ceiling and walls are handsomely frescoed, the 
coloring being of a subdued tone. The windows are of 
stained glass. There is a spacious baptistery under the 
pulpit platform, from which there are convenient commu- 
nications with the robing-rooms. These, with the church 
parlor, 37 by 32 feet, and the pastor's study, occupy the first 

* This latter avenue was named after the late William Warburton 
Scrugham. 



UARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 1 75 

floor of the chapel. On the second floor is the Sunday- 
school room, 69 by 32 feet, with an end gallery for the pri- 
mary department, and separated from the main room by 
sliding- glass doors. 

This room is furnished with semi-oval cane-bottom 
settees. This and the audience room are lighted from 
great reflectors in the ceiling. The Sunday-school room 
is frescoed as the church. Great attention was given to 
the ventilation of this building, and the architect pro- 
nounced it to be one of the best ventilated buildings in the 
country. 

The entire cost of the building and appointments, 
including the ground on which it stands, was nearly 
$200,000, all of which, except the Si 0,000 raised by the 
church, was contributed by John B. Trevor and James 
B. Colgate. 

The deed of this superb gift, made by Messrs. Trevor 
and Colgate, was formally presented and accepted in a 
meeting of the church held on June 7, 1869. In presenting 
the deed, Mr. Colgate spoke as follows : 

" Mr, CJiairman and Brethren : About thirty years since, 
in conversation with my friend Garret N. Bleeker, I ex, 
pressed to him a hope that I might live to build a house 
of worship for the service of God. This hope, since then 
secretly cherished, is about to be fulfilled. 

" Nothing belongs to me in this enterprise which does 
not belong equally to my associate and friend, John B. 
Trevor. . 

" In the erection of this house of worship we trust we 
have been actuated by no motives which will not bear the 
scrutiny of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

" We are not careful to reply to those who may charge 
us with extravagance. Such w^e would refer to the answer 
of our Lord in reply to the question, ' Ought not this oint- 
ment to be sold for more than two hundred pence and 
given to the poor ?' And we would also remind such that 
the oldest historical fact on record pertaining to public 
worship is that God had respect to the sacrifice of Abel, 
who offered the firstlings of his flock, while he rejected the 
meaner offering of Cain, as insulting to his Creator. 



jy6 



CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 



" In conveying this property we have imposed some 
conditions, in which we think the Church will cheerfully 
acquiesce. 

" i. The property cannot be sold, but must be used 
solely for a Baptist church. 




WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 



" 2. Its' use is restricted to religious purposes only, 
excluding everything secular. 

" 3. The Church is debarred the right to encumber the 
property. 

" And, brethren, may peace dwell ever with you. May 
these new walls never reverberate with the strife of breth- 
ren, but may they resound with the teachings of God's 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 1 77 

Word, accompanied with the notes of praise and prayer. 
May the interesting associations clustering around the old 
be transferred to the new edifice, and there be entwined 
with dearer and fresher and more glorious associations ; 
and may ' He who dwelleth between the cherubim shine 
forth ' and fill the house with his glory. 

" We now most cheerfully and cordially tender to you 
this deed of the property." 

The pastor responded in a few words, and G. H. Scrib- 
ner, Esq., read the carefully drawn document, which, be- 
sides being a full deed of conveyance, embodies the com- 
plete Articles of Faith of the Church, adherence to which 
is a perpetual condition of the gift. He then moved the 
resolution by which the church received the property — one 
of the largest donations ever made by two individuals to a 
church of Christ. And the church will do well to remember 
that it " is never to be encumbered " — which, by a free inter- 
pretation, must mean that no mortgage is to rest upon its 
stone and mortar, and no dead formalism is to crush the life 
out of the worship and enterprise of which it is to be the 
home and centre. 

The church was dedicated on Sunday morning, June 
20, 1869. The pastor, Rev. A. J. F. Behrends, Rev. C. 
D'W. Bridgman, D. D., of Albany, and Rev. Edward Bright, 
D. D., of Yonkers, occupied seats on the pulpit platform. 
After the invocation and the singing of the 933d hymn, 
selections from the Scriptures were read by Rev. Dr. Bridg- 
man. The dedicatory prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. 
Edward Bright, and Rev. A. J. F. Behrends preached the 
dedicatory sermon from these words : " The glory of this 
latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the 
Lord of hosts, and in this place shall I give peace, saith the 
Lord of hosts." Haggai 2:9. At the close of the sermon 
the choir sang the sentence beginning, " How beautiful 
are Thy dwellings, O Lord of Hosts !" 

Services were held in the afternoon which began by 
singing. A portion of Scripture was read and prayer was 
offered by Rev. L. W. Mudge, pastor of the Westminster 
Presbyterian Church. 

By invitation of the pastor, Rev. M. D'C. Crawford 

Church and Sunday-school Work. I 2 



1/8 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

D. D., pastor of the First Methodist Church, Rev. David 
Cole, D. D., pastor of the Reformed Church, and Rev. 
Thomas A. Jaggar, rector of St. John's Episcopal Church, 
addressed the audience. 

In the evening the Rev. C. D'W. Bridgman, D. D., 
pastor of the Pearl Street Baptist Church, Albany, preached 
from the text, " Why say est thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O 
Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is 
passed over from my God ? Hast thou not known, hast 
thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the 
Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is 
weary ?" Isaiah 40 : 27, 28. 

A congratulatory meeting was held in the audience- 
room of the new church edifice on Monday evening, June 
21, 1869. The pastor, Rev. A. J. F. Behrends, presided and 
after an appropriate introductory address, on behalf of the 
committee appointed to make arrangements for this meet- 
ing, he offered the following preamble and resolutions : 

Whereas, Our brethren, John B. Trevor and James B. 
Colgate, have manifested a spirit of liberality and an in- 
tensity of interest worthy of the highest commendation, in 
the munificent gift of a beautiful house of worship to the 
Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, and so transferring the 
same that the church cannot fail to have a thoroughly fur- 
nished local habitation, and enjoy the highest opportunities 
for the effective prosecution of Christian work, as long 
as the spirit of worship remains in the body of her mem- 
bership ; and 

Whereas, It is, and ever must continue to be, a matter 
of just village pride that within the boundary lines of our 
local habitation there have been nourished a benevolence 
so large-hearted and an execution so painstaking, and that 
our soil has been honored with so great and enduring a 
monument of Christian liberality and devotion ; and 

Whereas, This noble act of Christian generosity, noble 
in conception, in the amount of money expended, in the 
care personally given to the enterprise, and in the free- 
heartiness of its conveyance to the church for the use of a 
Baptist house of worship for ever, is a significant expres- 
sion of the full indorsement by our brethren of the principles 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 1 79 

of the denomination of which they are honored members ; 
therefore 

Resolved, That, as members of the Warburton Avenue 
Baptist Church and Congregation, we unite most cordially 
in this formal expression of our thorough appreciation of 
the noble generosity of our brethren, Trevor and Colgate, 
earnestly praying " that these new walls may never rever- 
berate with the strife of brethren, but resound with the 
teachings of God's Word, accompanied with the notes of 
praise and prayer, that the interesting associations cluster- 
ing around the old may be transferred to the new edifice, 
and here be entwined with dearer and fresher and more 
glorious associations, and that ' He who dwelleth between 
the cherubim ' may shine forth and fill the house with his 
glory." 

Resolved, That, as citizens of the village of Yonkers, as 
admirers of the beautiful in art and of the enduring in 
construction, as lovers of good order, promoted more by 
schools and churches than by police and prisons, we hail 
with hearty joy this noble addition to the place of our hab- 
itation, and rejoice in this added assurance of peaceful 
Sabbaths and unmolested homes. 

Resolved, That we hail the generous act of our brethren 
as calculated to inspire a just pride in the hearts of all who 
throughout our broad land are bound to them by ecclesias- 
tical associations, and as an eloquent plea to the men of 
means in our denomination to consecrate during life their 
substance to the Lord. 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions, engrossed, 
be, by the committee appointed to draft the same, duly 
certified and presented to Messrs. John B. Trevor and 
James B. Colgate, severally, as an abiding memorial of 
this occasion. 

John M. Bruce, Jr., Esq., of Yonkers, moved the ap- 
proval and adoption of the above resolutions. The motion 
having been seconded by A. F. Decker, Esq., the first reso- 
lution was responded to, on behalf of the church, by the 
Rev. Edward Bright, D. D., editor of the " Examiner and 
Chronicle." William Allen Butler, Esq., of the First Pres- 
byterian Church, Yonkers, responded by invitation of the 



l8o CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

committee, and at the suggestion of prominent citizens not 
members of the church or of the congregation, to the sec- 
ond resolution. 

The Rev. J. R. Kendrick, D. D., pastor of the Taber- 
nacle Baptist Church of New York city, responded to the 
third resolution, on behalf of the denomination. 

Rev. Dr. Kendrick closed his address as follows : 

" Standing in this beautiful temple of religion, just 
dedicated to the highest of purposes, I almost envy the 
men who have loved their principles and their people so 
well as to build for them a synagogue, who have had the 
money and the grace to set so sublime an example. They 
have reared for themselves a monument more noble than 
the proudest mausoleum which bereaved affection, aided 
though it were by royal treasures, could construct. Would 
you see that monument ? Look around. Blessings on them ! 
Blessings on their basket and their store, their homes 
and offices and commercial transactions ! So long as 
they continue rich in grace, and in this grace of giving, I 
care not how freely they receive and how opulent they 
become. 

" And blessings on you, my brother, the pastor of this 
flock, and on the church an,d congregation that are the 
favored and grateful recipients of this extraordinary gener- 
osity. Peace be within these walls ! For my brethren and 
companions'' sake throughout the land I will now say, Peace 
be within y 07i /" 

The resolutions were unanimously and enthusiastically 
approved and adopted by a rising vote. The Doxology was 
then sung, and the congregation was dismissed. 

The new edifice was dedicated on what is known in 
the Episcopal communion as St. John's Day, and the follow- 
ing poem, commemorative of the event, was written by 
Mrs. J. H. Uhl, of Yonkers : 

The day of good St. John 

With fervid splendors shone, 
Distilling sweets from every rose of June ; 

Blue waters laughed in light, 

Blue ether wooed the flight 
Of birds, whose matin songs were all in tune. 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH, l8l 

This day of summer days 

Its purple pomp displays 
To grace a gift more regal than its own ; 

For Nature's wealthiest dole 

Shows poor beside the soul 
Of "cheerful giving," which His love doth crown. 

More sweet than rose of June, 

Than bird-song more in tune, 
Than sky or water brighter and more fair ; 

This dual gift shines forth, 

And for its noble worth 
Claims in all Christian hearts their thanks to share. 

John-Baptist's holy day, 

Its benediction lay 
Upon the doers of this generous deed ; 

And may the holy spell 

Rest on their work as well — 
All Christian hearts must pray for it, " God speed." 

The successive pastors of this church have been : Rev. 
Do Henry Miller — settled 1849; resigned 1857. Rev. J. R. 
Scott — settled 1858; resigned September 5, i860. Rev. J. 
C. C. Clarke — settled October 24, 1861 ; resigned February 
24, 1865. Rev. A. J. F. Behrends — settled July 27, 1865 ; 
resigned June 6, 1873. Rev. William T. Burns — settled 
May 20, 1874; resigned October 2, 1875. Rev. Henry M. 
Sanders — settled September 28, 1876; resigned December 
1, 1 88 1. Rev. Edward P. Farnham — settled March 1, 
1883; resigned 1886. Rev. H. B. Grose, acting pastor, Oc- 
tober, 1887, to April, 1888. 

Rev. Dr. Alvah S. Hobart resigned the pastorate of 
the First Baptist Church, Toledo, Ohio, to accept that of 
the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, Yonkers, in June, 
1888. 

Rev. Alvah Sabin Hobart was born at Whitby, Canada 
West, March 7, 1847, °f Charles and Pathenia Hobart, citi- 
zens of Vermont. He is the grandson of Rev. Alvah 
Sabin, who was pastor of the Baptist Church in Georgia, 
Vt., for fifty-two years. He was converted in the spring of 
1868 at Georgia, Vt., and baptized by Rev. L. A. Dunn into 
the fellowship of the Fairfax Church in the autumn of that 
year; graduated at Madison (now Colgate) University in 
1873 ; and from the Hamilton Theological Seminary in 



1 82 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

1875 ; ordained June 30, 1875 ; began his first pastorate at 
Morris, N. Y., August 30, 1874, while in the Seminary; 
married, September of that year, Miss Mary Katie Bancroft, 
the daughter of Dr. John D. and Laura B. Bancroft, of Har- 
persville, N. Y. In March, 1879, he removed to Cincinnati, 
Ohio, to take the pastorate of the Mount Auburn church, 
and from there to the First Church, Toledo, Ohio, Septem- 
ber 1, 1885. The degree of D. D. was conferred by Deni- 
son University, Ohio, in 1887. 

" His pastorates have all been successful — eminently so 
was his last one, as evidenced by large additions to the 
church. In his pastorate of three years he baptized 11 1 
and received on experience and letters 49. The morning 
and evening audiences were larger than ever before. The 
people of his Toledo church are earnest and active, main- 
taining the largest church prayer-meeting in that city. Dr. 
Hobart entered upon his ministerial work in Yonkers on 
Sunday, August 19, 1888. " 

Rev. Dr. Hobart's labors as pastor of this church have 
been followed with blessed results. He is active, earnest, 
and aggressive in his pulpit and pastoral work. As an 
expositor of the truths of the Bible he is practical and 
instructive, emphatically independent in thought and utter- 
ance, and bold in the declaration of his principles. " His 
marked individuality and independency of thought is inter- 
blended with large-heartedness and warm sympathies. His 
sermons are clear and didactic, intensely practical, dealing 
with the heart and conscience, full of beauty, instruction, 
encouragement, and religious power, and leading the un- 
converted directly to Christ. 

Under his ministrations the congregation is enlarging. 
The additions to the membership of the church during his 
pastorate to this date, October, 1890, are 109. The church 
in August, 1889, changed the plan of support and adopted 
a financial plan which was suggested by the pastor, Rev. 
Dr. Hobart. 

The plan in its results has been extremely gratifying 
and successful thus far beyond all expectations. At the 
annual meeting of the church held January 23, 1890, the 
trustees reported the expenses for the year all met and the 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 1 83 

receipts from rentals and subscriptions $900 more than last 
year, 1889. 

The contributions to benevolence, exclusive of some 
large individual gifts, for the year ending December, 1889, 
amounted to $3,955 12; for the Sunday-schools, $371 15; 
total, $4,326 27. 

The Women's Missionary Circle connected with this 
church was organized in 1873. Its membership is seventy- 
five, and their annual contribution at this writing, October, 
1890, is $500. Its officers are : Mrs. C. E. Okell, President ; 
Miss Caroline Tripler, Vice-President ; Miss Mary Colgate, 
Treasurer ; Miss Hattie Middlebrook, Assistant Treasurer. 

A Woman's Union Prayer-meeting was organized by 
Mrs. Livingston Willard and Mrs. William Affleck March 
12, 1876. The meetings were held weekly in the parlor of 
this church for three years. They were full of interest, 
and were seasons of great spiritual refreshment to all who 
attended them. 

The church has a " Committee on Visitation and Infor- 
mation, through which they seek to find and interest peo- 
ple in their work, to make a welcome for strangers ; to visit 
the sick; and to persuade people to accept the Saviour. 
Hundreds of visits have been made to the sick and sorrow- 
ing, the stranger and the wanderer, besides many that are 
only the expression of common Christian fellowship. It is 
all the outgrowth of the Woman's Prayer-meeting, which 
is held every Thursday at 3 P. M." 

The following ladies are the committee on informa- 
tion and visitation : Mrs. A. S. Hobart, Chairman ; Mrs. 
Wm. Holme, Secretary ; Mrs. William Affleck, Mrs. James 
Affleck, Mrs. Okell, Mrs. Corwin, Mrs. M. J. Sherwood, Mrs. 
Simpson. Mrs. William N. Bailey, Mrs. Odell, Miss Matilda 
Fuller, and Mrs. Sykes. 

The officers and Committees of the Warburton Avenue 
Baptist Church for 1 890 and 1 89 1 are as follows : Deacons, 
James B. Colgate, William Holme, Isaac G. Johnson, Wil- 
lim N. Bailey, Samuel Dinsmore ; Treasurer of the Church, 
W. Holme; Clerk, B. F. Bogart; Assistant Clerk, Rich- 
ard Edie, Jr. ; Treasurer of Poor Fund, J. W. Ackerman ; 
Assistant Treasurers of Poor Fund, Luke Simpson and 



1 84 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Mrs. M. J. Sherwood ; Committee on Systematic Benevo- 
lence, I. G. Johnson, W. H. Baldwin and J. G. Affleck ; 
Committee on Music, J. B. Trevor, E. O. Carpenter, and 
C. D. Wyman; Advisory Committee, Rev. Dr. A. S. Ho- 
bart, James B. Colgate, William Holme, Isaac G. Johnson, 
William N. Bailey, Samuel Dinsmore, B. F. Bogart, C. D. 
Wyman, E. L. Manning, and C. H. Callahan ; Committee 
on Baptisms, J. W. Arbuckle, W. F. Corwin, Mrs. W. F. 
Corwin, Mrs. R. O. Phillips, and Mrs. Westcott ; Mrs. Wil- 
liam Holme, Women's Meeting and Work ; James Howes, 
Young People's Association ; B. F. Bogart, Committee on 
Benevolence ; Committee on Seating, W. F. Corwin and 
Edward O. Carpenter ; Collector, J. G. Affleck. 

Board of Trustees : John B. Trevor,* William Affleck, 
John W. Ackerman, James B. Colgate, Isaac W. Maclay, 
William H. Belknap, E. O. Carpenter, Isaac G. Johnson, 
and W. F. Corwin. 

Officers of the Board : James B. Colgate, President ; 
W. H. Belknap, Secretary ; E. O. Carpenter, Treasurer. 

The organist is Willard Carpenter, who has occupied 
that position since 1880. The choir is composed of the fol- 
lowing persons : Miss Bertha Odell, Miss Lane, Miss Griggs, 
and Miss Sherwood, soprano ; Miss Emma Crowther, Miss 
May Tarbell, and Miss Grace King, contralto ; L. A. Chase 
and J. Olivet Kipp, tenor ; William T. C. Carpenter and W. 
G. Youmans, bass. 

" The Gleaner " is the title of a monthly paper which 
is published by the church under the direction of the pas- 

* Deceased December 2, 1890. 
Early in January, 1891, the trustees received the following communi- 
cation from Mr. Henry G. Trevor : 

" Dear Brethren : — Wishing to honor the memory of my father, and 
to continue the prosperity of the church he loved, I wish to make the fol- 
lowing proposition : If the church will consent, I will build a parsonage, 
and give the same to the church, on the easterly side of the present church 
lot. The building shall be made after plans by a competent architect, 
and will cost in the neighborhood of not less than $15,000." 

Plans for the new parsonage have been accepted by Mr. Henry G. 
Trevor, costing several thousands more than the generous offer at first 
made, and he has sent a communication to the trustees saying that he is 
now awaiting their advice in locating the house on the lot before taking 
the final steps for the contract. — The Gleaner. 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 1 85 

tor, Alvah S. Hobart, D. D. The first issue of this church 
paper was in February, 1 890. 

The present — March, 1891 — resident membership of 
this church is 569. 

The first pulpit Bible of this church is now in use in 
the parlor of the church. It is a Bagster Bible, and on the 
title-page is printed, " Republished by the American and 
Foreign Bible Society, 1847." O n the cover is inscribed, 
" Mount Olivet Baptist Church." The second pulpit Bible 
is now used as the chapel Bible. On it is inscribed these 
words: "Mount Olivet Baptist Church, August, i860." 
The third pulpit Bible now in the church has the following 
inscription in old English : " Warburton Avenue Baptist 
Church, Yonkers, N. Y., June, 1869." 

The communion -service of this church consists of four 
goblets, four plates, and one tankard. The tankard for- 
merly belonged to the first communion set used in the 
Mount Olivet Baptist Church. Two of the plates, which 
are of solid silver, were presented to the church by the 
rector of St. John's Episcopal Church of Yonkers, Rev. A. 
B. Carter, D. D., and his congregation. On the border of 
the plates are these texts of Scripture : " Behold how good 
and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." 
" Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy pal- 
aces." In the centre of the plates is inscribed: " The Rec- 
tor and Congregation of St. John's Church to the Pastor 
and Congregation of the Mount Olivet Baptist Church. 
The Christian courtesy and brotherly kindness which 
prompted the offer of their church building during the 
time St. John's Church was undergoing repairs* will ever 
be held in grateful remembrance. Yonkers, N. Y., 1853." 
Two goblets, lined with gold, and two plates, which are of 
solid silver, were the gift of John B. Trevor ; there are also 
two goblets and two plates the gift of James B. Colgate, on 
the former is inscribed : " Presented to the Warburton Av- 
enue Baptist Church, Yonkers, by John B.Trevor, 1876;" 
on the latter, " Presented to the Warburton Avenue Bap- 
tist Church, Yonkers, by James B. Colgate, 1876." 

* The congregation of St. John's Church held their services in the 
evening in the Mount Olivet Baptist Ghurch. 



186 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The church ushers : W. H. Belknap, J, W. Ackerman, 
W. F. Corwin, W. W. Middlebrook, Carroll Moore, and B. 
G. Westcott. 

The sexton of this church is Michael Dearman, who 
has served in that capacity for twenty-four years. 

The annual meeting of the church for the election of 
officers is held in December, and the officers and commit- 
tees make reports of their work in January. 

The sacrament of the Lord's Supper is celebrated the 
first Sabbath morning in each month. 

General prayer-meeting Wednesday evening at 8 
o'clock. 

Sabbath services at 10:45 A. M. and 7: 30 P. M. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

One morning in the month of May in the year 1849, 
under the village chestnut-trees, on the north bank of the 
Neperah River (or rapid waters), Benjamin Franklin Crane, 
Elias Whipple, Jonathan Odell, Peter F. Peek, and George 
Van Ness talked the first Baptist Sunday-school of Yonkers 
into existence. 

As the result of this conference the first meeting of 
the Sunday-school was held at the residence of Peter F. 
Peek down by the river-side, in the building now the St. 
John's Riverside Hospital, on Woodworth Avenue. At 
this meeting there were present as teachers Miss Amelia 
Minnerly, George Van Ness, Benjamin F. Crane, and Peter 
F. Peek, and five pupils. On the Sunday following they 
met in a building called Flagg's Hall, located on the north- 
east corner of Palisade Avenue and New Main Street — 
then Factory and Mechanic Streets. 

This building was the first public hall erected in Yon- 
kers, and was put up and owned by Ethan Flagg. It was 
in this hall, on May 14, 1849, tnat the formal organization 
of the first Baptist Sunday-school in Yonkers was effected. 
There were present as teachers George Van Ness, Mrs. 
Van Ness, Miss Minnerly, and Peter F. Peek, and seven 
pupils. Benjamin F. Crane was elected superintendent. 
The number of teachers and pupils increased every Sun- 
day until the room was well filled at the end of the first year. 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 1 87 

Into the new Mt. Olivet Church building the Sunday- 
school entered on the day of its dedication. The school 
numbered at this time about 200 pupils. The pastor's wife, 
Mrs. Lucy E. Miller, had a class of twelve young ladies. 
Among the number were the late Mrs. Isaiah Anderson, 
Miss Manetta Minnerly, Miss Whipple, and Miss Adelia 
Kniffin (now Mrs. William P. Drummon). The latter sub- 
sequently became the teacher of the infant class, ten in 
number. The exercises in this little class consisted of the 
recitation of hymns from the Psalmist (then the church 
hymn-book), the Sunday-school hymn-book, Scripture ver- 
ses which they memorized at home, and instruction in the 
articles of faith adopted by this church. Isaiah Anderson 
was an efficient and faithful secretary of this school. His 
term of service in connection with the Sunday-school in 
the Mount Olivet Church and the Warburton Avenue 
Church was seven years. He was also a member of the 
board of trustees and treasurer of the church for eighteen 
years. 

The pastor, Rev. D. Henry Miller, taught a large 
class of young men. The teachers of the Mount Olivet 
Sunday-school, in addition to those who taught in Flagg's 
Hall, so far as can be ascertained, were : Mr. and Mrs. 
Frank Miles, Mr. and Mrs. David Knowles, Mr. and Mrs. 
Robert F. Rich, N. P. Odell, and Mrs. B. Leeds. And 
those who taught at a still later period were: John B. 
Trevor, Mrs. Trevor,* James B. Colgate, and Mrs. Colgate. 

* Mrs. Louisa S. S. Trevor, for many years an active and useful mem- 
ber of the Mount Olivet Baptist Church, was an esteemed and very suc- 
cessful teacher in this school. She had charge of a class of young ladies 
who were devotedly attached to her and by whom she is joyfully and lov- 
ingly remembered, because through her instructions they were led to love 
the Saviour. Said one who was her pupil : " Mrs. Trevor's teachings 
were always attractive, never monotonous, and she showed by her walk 
and conversation that her own heart had been touched with the influence 
of that which she endeavored to teach us. She always seemed to feel the 
importance and responsibility of her work." Mrs. Trevor was an invalid 
during the closing years of her life, and in the last weeks and days of her 
illness she was a great but patient sufferer, throughout which God sus- 
tained her, and her final hour brought glory to him. A choice memorial 
tablet of the finest Aberdeen granite is firmly set in the southerly wall of 
the main audience-room of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church near 
the southeasterly corner, and a marble vase and flowers of purest vein, 



1 88 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The Sunday-school met in the audience-room of the 
church until the basement was completed, about 1853-4, 
and then met in the basement until the new church on 
Warburton Avenue was ready for use, in the year 1869. 

The last day the Sunday-school met in the Mount 
Olivet Church was on the morning of June 20, 1869. 

Superintendent Heman L. White read resolutions ex- 
pressive of their gratitude and appreciation to John B. Tre- 
vor and James B. Colgate for providing for them the new 
Sunday-school room which they were about to enter. 
These resolutions were adopted by a standing vote, after 
which a handsome blue silk banner — a gift from the super- 
intendent — was presented to the school. The donor said : 

" It affords me pleasure to present to you to-day this 
beautiful banner which we will follow from our old to our 
new home. May we through life follow the banner of 
Jesus, esteeming it our greatest honor and highest joy." 

After the presentation of the banner, the teachers and 
pupils with the members of the Spring Street Baptist Mis- 
sion Sunday-school (now the Nepperhan Avenue Baptist 
Mission Sunday-school), formed a procession numbering 
some 600 and marched with their banner floating to the 
breeze to their new chapel in the Warburton Avenue Bap- 
tist Church. The officers who accompanied the children 
in the joyful procession to the new church, and who were 

exquisitely carved, set in a projecting Gothic marble frame and fronting 
the encased tablet, seems to perpetuate in silent, solid stone the delicate 
fragrance of her pure Christian life. The tablet bears the following 
inscription : 

In JVEemory of 
LOUISA S. STEWART 

WIFE OF 

• JOHN B. TREVOR. 

Born May 21, 1836. 

Entered into rest 

September 7, 1867. 

Unwavering in her faith, 

she died rejoicing in 

the Saviour. 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 1 89 

connected with the Mount Olivet School, so far as can be 
ascertained, were : 

Heman L. White, Superintendent; I. Robert Ayres, 
Secretary ; Isaiah Anderson, Treasurer ; George Umphray, 
Librarian ; William N. Anderson, first assistant Librarian ; 
Edward Ferris, second assistant Librarian. The teachers 
were : R. Dutton, John W. Ackerman, Thomas Holman, 
William N. Bailey, Cornelius W. Peek, A. F. Westcott, 
Mrs. James B. Colgate, A. F. Decker, Miss Julia A. Sanger, 
Miss Hattie R. Umphray, Miss Alice Taggard, Miss Lucy 
White, Miss Amanda Cotton, and Mr. J. A. Van Wagner. 

The Superintendent, teachers, and scholars were met 
at the chapel Sunday-school room by Messrs. Colgate and 
Trevor. 

The programme of exercises was as follows : Volun- 
tary. Addresses of welcome by Messrs. Colgate and 
Trevor. Reports of former Superintendents. Original 
hymn, " Sing, O sing." Brief addresses by Superintendent 
and others. Singing, " Sabbath Joys." 

James B. Colgate spoke as follows : 

"Mr. Superintendent, Teachers, and Scholars: 
We welcome you most heartily to this new Sabbath home. 
Your looks and smiles indicate a joyful response to this 
sentiment. The house we have just left is endeared to us 
by tender recollections of the past. If the ground was hal- 
lowed where God spoke to Moses from out of the burning 
bush, ought not that spot to be loved by us where we have 
so often met our Saviour and where he has spoken peace 
to so many stricken hearts ? Some now present can recall 
the time when Ave met, few in numbers and under circum- 
stances greatly discouraging. But even then God had a 
blessing in reserve for us. Year by year we grew stronger, 
and when that place was too small to hold our increasing 
numbers He provided us with this, suited to our present 
necessities, complete in all its appointments, and where the 
eye rests satisfied. The possession of this house imposes 
heavier responsibilities ; but, sir, there is no dignity in life 
without responsibility. God, the church, and the school 
will expect of us a consistency of life and devotedness of 
purpose corresponding to the position we assume. God 



I90 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

requires of us that we teach his truth in simplicity with 
earnestness and godly fear. The church requires that we 
be ourselves examples to the children of truth and sobriety, 
keeping the Sabbath as God's day and living in all respects 
conformably to the gospel we profess to teach. The school 
requires of us no idle words, no vain shows unbecoming 
the house of God, but a decency and propriety which their 
young minds will not be slow to discern. These responsi- 
bilities each must meet for himself. My own heart re- 
sponds to the utterance of Joshua of old in the presence of 
assembled Israel : 'As for me and my house, we will serve 
the Lord.' Again we say to you, you are welcome, thrice 
welcome, to this house about to be dedicated to the service 
of the Most High God. May it prove to many who now 
hear me a gate to that upper sanctuary, to that ' building 
of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the 
heavens.' " 

John B. Trevor said : 

" Dear Children : — In welcoming you to this beautiful 
room I am reminded of the old Spanish custom of offering 
a visitor all the house contains ; and we now offer you all 
the accommodations afforded by this building, including 
its furniture and other appliances, as a free gift to you. 
We hope, also, that you will consider this as your Sunday 
home, and that you will once a week greet your teachers 
here just as some of you every day welcome your fathers 
when they return from their business in the city. You 
will also be offered here by your teachers and superin- 
tendent every Sunday far more valuable gifts than those 
now presented to you — I mean the great truths taught in 
God's Word. And the only return we all ask of you is, 
that you will show a due appreciation of these latter gifts, 
which we hope will be blessed to the salvation of your 
souls. You must not, however, selfishly consider all that 
has been done as done only to benefit you, but we hope 
you will realize that the glory of God has been our chief 
incentive, and that without his aid and blessing all our 
labor will be in vain." 

These addresses of welcome were responded to by 
Superintendent White as follows : 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. igr 

" We have listened with grateful emotions to the cordial 
words of welcome with which you have greeted us, and on 
behalf of the school I thank you. God has blessed us in 
the past and he smiles upon us to-day. Seven years ago, 
my first Sabbath in Yonkers, I came to this school where 
you with your wives were teaching. Three are with us 
to-day and one has gone before us to the " rest that re- 
maineth." Our numbers, then about 70, are now nearly 
700 and divided in two bands. The Spring Street Mission, 
a child of six summers and now outnumbering the old 
school, is here to-day, and prepared, through its efficient 
superintendent, to speak for itself. Our hearts are full of 
joy and rejoicing while we say, ' Not unto us, O Lord, but 
to thy name be all the glory.' We have just been down to 
say good-by to the old home, and the children and teachers 
have given me a message, a heartfelt message, to deliver 
to you, which I will now do." 

The Superintendent then read the following resolu- 
tions adopted by the school, and presented a copy of the 
same to Messrs. Colgate and Trevor, severally : 

Resolved, That under a deep sense of gratitude to God 
who has watched over and so abundantly blessed our Sab- 
bath -school, we desire to return our grateful thanks to him, 
the author of every good and perfect gift, who has given 
to our brethren and fellow-teachers, John B. Trevor and 
James B. Colgate, the ability and the willing hearts to pro- 
vide for us this delightful Sabbath-school home. 

Resolved, That we tender to our two brethren the 
heartfelt thanks of every one of our three hundred teachers 
and scholars, and we pray God to bless them a hundred- 
fold for this their great gift to us. 

Resolved, That this expression of our gratitude be pre- 
sented to our two beloved associates by the Superintendent 
of our school. 

William M. Gray, a former Superintendent of the church 
school, then followed in a few congratulating remarks. 

Rev. Dr. Bright, Superintendent of the Mission School, 
said he shared with them the joy and gladness which they 
felt on this day, and that he felt justly proud of the two 
bands which Brother White had mentioned. 



I92 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The pastor, Rev. A. J. F. Behrends, also spoke words 
of welcome to the school, and expressed the gratitude he 
felt, and doubtless all felt, to the Great Giver from whom 
cometh down every good and perfect gift. 

The singing of the " Children's Te Deum " closed 
these delightful exercises of the first day in the Sunday- 
school room. 

Heman L. White continued to be Superintendent until 
July 18, 1869, when illness compelled him to be away. 
Mr. Grimwood superintended the school during his ab- 
sence. Mr. White never attended the school after the 
above mentioned date. On Sunday evening, September 19, 
1869, he passed " beyond the regions of the skies to where 
the heavenly country lies." On the Wednesday following, 
his funeral was largely attended, and his remains were fol- 
lowed to the depot by a large concourse of friends and the 
members of the school, who walked in procession. The 
remains were interred in Greenwood Cemetery. The Sun- 
day-school room was heavily draped in mourning and this 
inscription was suspended behind the superintendent's 
desk : " He rests from his labors and his works do follow 
him." 

Thus the school, in a few brief months, from the 
heights of joy was plunged into the depths of sorrow. 

And the smiles and the tears and the song and the dirge 
Followed each other like surge upon surge. 

An election to fill the vacancy created by the death of 
Mr. White was held on Sunday, October 24, 1869, and Wil- 
liam Holme was unanimously chosen Superintendent. 

Mr. Holme was on a Western tour when he received 
the notice of his election to the superintendency, and the 
intelligence came to him as a pleasant surprise. He had 
been for six years the Superintendent of the Berean Bap- 
tist Sunday-school in New York. He entered upon his 
duties with the enthusiasm and energy which had always 
characterized his work. His term of service as Superin- 
tendent of this school was thirteen years. During these 
years he several times declined a re-election, as his busi- 
ness engagements necessitated his frequent absence from 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 193 

the city, but the school, appreciative of his valuable ser- 
vices, positively refused to accept his declination, and dur- 
ing his absence his place was temporarily filled by others. 
When Mr. Holme was absent he- always kept himself in- 
formed of the work in the school by correspondence, and 
he was ever on the alert to encourage and help forward 
Sunday-school work and workers wherever he chanced 
to be. 

The following is taken from a printed report of the 
school during the centennial year, December, 1876 : Officers, 
5 ; teachers, 25 ; scholars on registers, 250; average attend- 
ance, 170; largest attendance, 215 ; conversions, 23 ; deaths 
(teachers), 2; volumes in library, 1,052; receipts, $728 44; 
expenditures, $609 09. 

The officers of the school are : Wm. H. Holme, Super- 
intendent ; A. F. Decker, Assistant Superintendent ; W. 
Affleck, Jr., Secretary ; J. W. Ackerman, Treasurer ; F. S. 
Ackerman, Librarian. The teachers are : Mrs. James B. 
Colgate, Miss Florence Parsons, Miss Julia Sanger, Miss 
Chrystenah Ackerman, Miss Lizzie East, Miss Alice Preble, 
Miss Laura Youmans, Messrs. John W. Ackerman, Thomas 
Holman, John A. Amelung, John B. Trevor, Cornelius W. 
Peek, Thomas H. Messer, Wm. H. Holme, Edward Mar- 
shall, Harlow Harris, E. L. Manning, James E. Holme, 
Alonzo B. See, Wm. N. Bailey, Alfred F. Decker, Bailey J. 
Hathaway, Jr., Wm. Van Kirk, James B. Colgate, and Joseph 
L. Colby. 

In 1882, Mr. Holme, on account of ill-health and by the 
advice of his physician, finally resigned the superintend- 
ency, which resignation was reluctantly accepted. The beau- 
tiful illuminated Scripture mottoes which adorn the walls of 
the present Sunday-school room are his gift, and the views 
representing missionary life among the Teloogoos — which 
were purchased by the school — were put in neat walnut 
frames, also his gift. These, with the motto " Watch and 
Pray," in the Karen language, over the superintendent's 
desk, add to the attractions of this pleasant Sunday-school 
room, giving quite an air of a missionary school. 

The first mission band of this school was organized by 
Miss Lena T. Leeds in 1880, and was the outgrowth of her 

Church and Sunday-school Work. I "2 



194 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Sunday-school class of girls, who began their missionary 
work in the home field in Yonkers, in purchasing Bibles 
for two little girls who had never been the possessors of one 
of their own. These girls subsequently became members 
of the class. 

This first effort kindled in the minds of the girls a 
strong desire to extend their efforts in behalf of others 
in other directions, which purpose took definite shape in 
the formation of the band which took the name of the " Shu 
Go Sha," or " Band of Gathering Doves," which name was 
given to them by Miss Eva Munson, a pupil of this school 
(who had recently taken her departure for Tokio, Japan, 
there to engage in missionary labors), and was suggested by 
the gregarious habits of the gentle bird of Japan. 

The band increased in numbers, and the boys and 
young men of the church and Sunday-school asked to be 
admitted to its membership. Monthly meetings were reg- 
ularly held and the interest and zeal of its members in 
behalf of home and foreign missions increased, and were 
manifested not only in their large gatherings, but by sub- 
stantial contributions for various benevolent objects. The 
contributions of the band during the years of its existence 
were from $25 to $50 annually for foreign missions. It 
made four of its members— its President, Miss Lena T. 
Leeds, Miss Ella Andrews (now Mrs. Charles Austin), Miss 
Eva Munson (now Mrs. White), and Miss Lizzie East — life 
members of the Foreign Missionary Society of the Baptist 
Church. Besides these contributions some of its members 
conducted a service of song at St. John's Hospital weekly, 
and distributed flowers among the patients in the wards 
regularly, for several months. 

The first annual meeting of the " Shu Go Sha " was 
held on Friday evening, April 1, 1 881, in the parlor of the 
church, when the following programme was presented : 

Piano Solo Prof. W. Carpenter 

March — " Onward, Christian Soldiers " - Shu Go Sha 

Reading the Scriptures and Prayer - Rev. H. TVL Sanders 

Chorus — " We are Living, We are Dwelling " - - Shu Go Sha 

Annual Report - Jennie Prote 

Chorus — " Brightly Gleams our Banner" - Shu Go Sha 

Address Prof. Charles W. Sanders 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 195 

Piano Duet ----- Misses Maggie and Florence East 

Address Mrs. J. B. Colgate 

Semi-chorus—" Go Preach My Gospel " Members of Band 

Address — Tokio - Prof. A. Bickmore 

Piano Duet ------- Misses Colgate and Boll 

Letter from Miss Munson - Miss L. A. East 

Song— "Not Half Has Ever Been Told " - - Miss A. L. Decker 

Tribute to Miss Munson A. F. Decker 

Remarks Rev. Henry M. Sanders 

Chorus — " Only an Armor Bearer " Shu Go Sha 

REFRESHMENTS. 

The parlor was beautifully decorated with flowers, 
greens, and ornaments of Japanese design — such as para- 
sols, lanterns, fans, an elegant quilt, etc. The ornaments 
were loaned by Mrs. G. H. Scribner, Mrs. W. Drummon, 
Miss Sanger, and Fred Coon, and arranged by Miss M. E. 
Decker. The flowers were supplied by Mrs. J. B. Colgate. 
There was also on exhibition an autograph quilt to be sent 
to Miss Munson, made by members of the church. The 
ground was of red material and set in with white patches, 
upon which were written with a pen the names of friends 
of Miss Munson, to the number of nearly four hundred, 
who desired to take part in the gift. The door leading into 
the pastor's study was thrown open, and over it, framed in 
greens, was the name of the society, and in Japanese char- 
acters " Shu Go Sha," meaning the same thing. 

This band at the close of its first year numbered sixty 
members, and its officers were : Mrs. A. F. Decker, Presi- 
dent ; Miss L. A. East, Vice-President ; Miss Lena T. Leeds, 
Corresponding Secretary ; John Arbuckle, Recording Secre- 
tary ; Miss Florence East, Treasurer. 

The monthly meeting of the Shu Go Sha, held August 
8, 1883, was of special interest, nearly one hundred of its 
members being present, besides their friends from their 
own and other churches. 

Miss Lizzie East, Vice-President, presided and opened 
the meeting with the reading of the Scriptures and prayer, 
closing with the Lord's Prayer, in which all united. 

Henry Keeler, Secretary, read his report, also one from 
the committee in charge of the distribution of flowers in St. 
John's Riverside Hospital and one from the membership 



196 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

committee, which showed gratifying results in that depart- 
ment of the work of the band. 

Papers prepared by several members of the band, on 
the Government of China and the various religious beliefs 
of its people, were read, and were exceedingly interesting 
and instructive. , 

A gratifying and pleasing feature of the meeting was 
the singing of the hymn, " Hold the Fort," by three China- 
men in their own language. Fred Coon, a recent convert 
to Christianity, leading them, and all present joined in the 
chorus in the English language. 

The ready and strong support which the young men 
gave to these meetings, the warm and earnest sympathy 
manifested by all of the members, was the means of 
strengthening and increasing their interest in the noble 
work of foreign missions. 

The members of the Shu Go Sha also accomplished 
much good by sending papers and tracts to destitute Sun- 
day-schools among the Indians on the Seneca reservation 
in the western part of New York, near Buffalo. 

The following message in reference to their gift was 
received by a lady not connected with the band : 

" The box sent by the ' Shu Go Sha ' arrived in due 
time and touched us deeply by the manifested Christian 
love of the givers. Side by side, in this box from Baptist 
friends, were papers of almost every denomination, speak- 
ing with their utmost power of the love of Christ. I feel 
more and more how really we are all one in Christ. The 
box was a very valuable one, and we thank the donors 
most heartily." 

Some of the members of the Shu Go Sha removed 
from the city and others entered upon business which re- 
quired their time evenings. This, with their social and 
religious engagements in connection with their church and 
Young Men's Christian Association, prevented their attend- 
ance at the meetings of the band and they withdrew from 
its membership. As the attendance at the meetings and its 
membership decreased, it was thought advisable by some of 
the members to disband. Others of the young ladies were 
unwilling to do this, and brought the subject before the 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 197 

Women's Mission Circle of the church with the proposition 
" that if they would assist in organizing a new band they 
would give them the books and their missionary banner, 
also a valuable missionary map, if the new band would 
take their name." The proposition was accepted and a few 
of the younger members of the Sunday-school were gath- 
ered and enlisted in the enterprise. Monthly meetings 
were held in the church parlor. Miss Olivia Burns took 
the entire charge of them for several months, attending 
regularly the meetings and instructing them in missionary 
work. 

By request of the ladies of the church mission circle, 
the new band was organized October 2, 1886, taking the 
name of the " Gathering Doves," and is now under the 
direction of Miss Mary Colgate and Miss Hattie Middle- 
brook. All its offices are filled from the members of the 
band, and much of the executive work of the band is done 
by the little girls — from ten to twelve years old — who com- 
pose it. They preside at their meetings, read the Bible, 
and lead in prayer. They have their nominating commit- 
tee, their officers are elected annually, and all stand a 
chance of having active service. 

The " Mission Band Scrap Book," the device of its 
directors, is an instructive and valuable feature of their 
work. It contains interesting descriptive and illustrative 
articles on the manners and customs of heathen lands 
alphabetically arranged. It is a reference book of incalcu- 
lable benefit. By this means the whole world is touched 
by them. The care of this is entrusted to the little girls, 
who receive contributions from the members of the band. 
Thus by all these methods they are being trained to be 
useful church workers. 

During the past year they sent a package of books and 
Scripture cards to the Teloogoo Mission in India, made fif- 
teen scrap books, which Avere sent to Madras, and also a 
number of garments for the Congo children in Africa. Be- 
sides this they contributed articles towards a missionary 
box sent by the Women's Mission Circle to India. 

On the afternoon of October 2, 1887, they held their 
first anniversary in the Nepperhan Mission Chapel and had 



198 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

a very delightful time. The girls took part in recitations 
and singing, and one of the State Secretaries of the Wo- 
men's Baptist Foreign Mission Society addressed them. 

The band raised, by a sale of fancy articles made by 
its members, $100, in 1889. 

The following is a brief account of other work accom- 
plished : " During the year we have studied about Judson, 
Boardman and his work among the Karens, and have had 
a few lessons about Carey and the Hindoo people. In Octo- 
ber a sale was held which was very successful. We have 
agreed to send $50 of our money to Tokio, Japan, for the 
education of a child in one of the schools." 

There are twenty-five members. Since the organiza- 
tion of the Band it has raised $255, of which $32 25 have 
come from dues of five cents a month from its members. 
The Band continues under the efficient management of 
Miss Mary Colgate and Miss Hattie Middlebrook. Its 
present officers — April, 1891 — are Miss Edna Randall, Presi- 
dent ; Miss May Tarbell, Secretary ; Miss Miriam Sher- 
wood, Treasurer. 

The branch of the " King's Daughters " belonging to 
this Sunday-school was organized by Miss Lena T. Leeds, 
who was its President, July 13, 1887. Its members are ac- 
tively engaged in good work. A song service at St. John's 
Riverside Hospital, conducted by some of its members, is 
appreciated by the patients of that institution. A note 
from the matron, Mrs. Sarah J. Rickey, dated August 29, 
1887, says: 

" King's Daughters — Dear Friends : Your donation 
of fruits, flowers, and clothing for little Alice has been 
received at the hospital. On behalf of the Ladies' Commit- 
tee and the Board of Managers I desire to thank you for 
the kindly interest manifested as well as for the substantial 
aid given to this charitable work. I also desire to thank 
you for your service of song." 

The young people's weekly prayer-meeting which is 
connected with this church and Sunday-school was organ- 
ized in October, 1881, and is a means of great usefulness, 
not only to the Sunday-school, but to the church as well. 

The sixth anniversary of the organization of this 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 199 

young people's meeting was held in the chapel of the Nep- 
perhan Avenue Baptist Mission in October, 1887. There 
were about 325 persons present. James G. Affleck presi- 
ded. The exercises were opened by singing the hymns 
"Tell it Out" and "Redeemed." Prayer was offered by 
William Smith, President of the Dayspring Young Peoples 
Association, at the conclusion of which Charles J. Wallis, 
of the Westminster Young People's Association, read from 
the Scriptures the fifteenth chapter of John. 

After singing " Blest be the Tie that Binds," the 
report for the past year, a most interesting one, was read 
by James G. Affleck, chairman of the Young People's Meet- 
ing, who said in substance : The past year's work has been 
most encouraging, being marked by a large attendance and 
a lively general interest. Total attendance for the year 
5,450 ; average attendance at each meeting being a marked 
increase over that of former years. January 24, 1887, there 
was started, as an outcome of our meetings, a Bible Read- 
ing Union, in which there are 148 members, and the way 
the work has been followed up and the benefit resulting 
therefrom has been a source of much gratification. We 
have good reason to believe that since November 1, 1886, 
nearly fifty young men and women have been led to their 
Saviour through the efforts put forth in these meetings, 
and of the forty-seven young people who have united with 
our church during the year fully thirty, by their own testi- 
mony, have shown of what value these meetings have been 
to them. We cannot ever find out to how many these 
meetings have been stepping-stones leading them to a 
higher and nobler life. God has truly blessed us, and he 
will, we believe, bless us again. 

" Take Me as I Am " was sung. 

Addresses were delivered by Rev. H. B. Grose and 
Rev. H. M. Sanders. 

After singing " He that Believeth," Charles E. See, 
President of the Young People's Society of Christian En- 
deavor of the Reformed Church, led in prayer. The sing- 
ing of the doxology, and the benediction pronounced by 
Mr. Sanders, ended the interesting exercises. 

The quarterly review days in this school are observed 



200 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

by special exercises, and careful preparation by the Super- 
intendent and teachers is made, so as to have the exercises 
different in character each review day. 

The Christmas festival of the school for 1887 was an 
unusually interesting occasion. The chapel of the church 
was tastefully trimmed with greens and Christmas greet- 
ings. Much time, patience, and work were expended by 
the officers, teachers, and pupils in preparing for the ren- 
dering of the Christmas cantata, " Santa Claus' Mistake, or, 
a Bundle of Sticks," which was the special feature of the 
evening's entertainment, and which took forty minutes in 
rendering. The words were by Clara Louise Burnham 
and music by George F. Root. Some thirty persons par- 
ticipated in it. This work was localized, and was under 
preparation for several months. The east end of the 
chapel was artistically arranged to permit a full view of 
the entire performance by all the audience, which not 
only filled every seat, but occupied all the available stand- 
ing-room as well. The singing and acting of those who 
took part was so natural and graceful that frequent and 
hearty applause was expressed by the audience. There 
were recitations by Ada Cox, Hattie Fisher, Edna Trom- 
ley, Belle Ferguson, Thomas Pullen, and Charles Fisher. 
The infant class sang a carol sweetly. After these exer- 
cises the disrobing of the Christmas-tree took place, and 
each schoolar was remembered with an appropriate gift. 

The religious services of this festival were observed in 
the church on Sunday morning with the following exer- 
cises : Organ Voluntary. Processional, " Onward, Chris- 
tian Soldiers." Prayer by the pastor, closing with the 
Lord's Prayer by the school. Responsive Scripture read- 
ing. Carol. Sermon. Hymn by congregation and school. 
Christmas offering. Carol. Baptism. Recessional. 

Rev. H. B. Grose preached on the meaning of Christ- 
mas and the giving of Christmas offerings by representa- 
tives of various classes. At the close of the sermon the 
impressive ordinance of baptism was administered to the 
following persons : Mrs. Mary J. Wilcox, Miss Mary E. 
Craft, William Graham, William B. Feakins, Frank O. 
Freethy, and William H. Ball, Jr. 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 201 

The Christmas offering of the school was $30 60 for 
the Baptist Ministers' Home, which is located at West 
Farms in this county. 

The following report of this Sunday-school for the year 
ending December 31, 1887, was presented at the annual 
meeting of the church by the Superintendent : 

" Enrolment — Officers, 5 ; teachers, 32 ; scholars — adult 
and intermediate, 269; primary, 89; total, 395, an increase 
of 43 over 1886. Total number of classes, including pri- 
mary class, 29; total attendance for the year, 13,287, in- 
crease of 1,735 over 1886; average Sunday attendance for 
the year, 255, increase of 33 over 1886; largest Sunday 
attendance for the year, 310, increase of 30 over 1886; 
number of deaths during the year, 2 ; members of school 
who are members of church, 116; volumes in library, 
1,000. 

" Our finances show a balance on the credit side, as 
appears by the report of the treasurer. The annual sum- 
mer excursion in connection with the Nepperhan Avenue 
Baptist Mission School was given in July last, also the 
Christmas services and festival were held at the usual sea- 
son. A very gratifying interest in the work of the school 
has been apparent during the year, as evidenced by the 
regular attendance of the scholars, the fidelity of the teach- 
ers, and the increased membership, as shown by the enrol- 
ment. 

" Our greatest cause for rejoicing has been that twenty- 
three members of the school have given their hearts to the 
Saviour during the year. Herein lies our greatest encour- 
agement and incentive to more faithful service, for it may 
truly be regarded as a mark of the approval of our Lord 
upon the labors of his disciples as well as the fulfilling of 
his own promise. In reviewing the record of the year we 
cannot but feel that the blessing of God has been upon us, 
and with hearts full of gratitude for past mercies we look 
forward with faith and hope that the year to come may be 
one of blessing to all who may come within the influence 
of the school. 

" Respectfully submitted, 

•'GEORGE M. BAILEY, Superintendent." 



202 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The room in which the Primary Department of the 
Sunday-school of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church 
meets is on the west end of the Sunday-school room, from 
which it is separated by a sash partition. It is conveni- 
ently and attractively furnished with black walnut seats, 
superintendent's desk and table, and the floor is covered 
with ingrain carpet of shaded crimson, the same as the 
Sunday-school room. Charts with the ten commandments, 
the beatitudes, a map and blackboard and pictures com- 
plete the adornments of the room. This department is 
superintended by Thomas H. Messer, who has had it in 
charge for twelve years. He is assisted by his daughter, 
Miss Beulah Messer, formerly a pupil of the Primary De- 
partment of the Nepperhan Avenue Baptist Mission Sun- 
day-school. She entered that school when but three years 
old, and has ever since, either as a scholar or a teacher in 
the Sunday-school, been connected therewith. 

Promotions from this department into the main room 
are made usually in classes of five or six, and the qualifica- 
tions of the children are that they shall read fairly well 
and know the ten commandments, the beatitudes, the 
twenty-third Psalm, and other portions of Scripture in 
which instructions are given, together with the regular 
lessons of the International Series taught in the Sunday- 
school. 

The teachers in this department give much attention 
to singing. Besides the hymns in the Sunday-school books, 
others are selected which are appropriate and popular with 
the children. The children's paper, entitled " Our Little 
Ones," is distributed every Sunday. The " Berean Leaf 
Cluster," consisting of large colored pictures illustrative of 
the lessons, is also used. After they have been used they 
are sent with papers contributed by the children to desti- 
tute Sunday-schools in the South. 

The pleasure afforded to their recipients and their use- 
fulness is indicated in the following extracts taken from 
some of the letters received by the Superintendent. 

Rev. E. A. Carter, a colored Baptist preacher, writes 
from Atlanta, Ga., November 9, 1883: "On my arrival 
home from the Preachers' Association I found a letter 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 203 

from you which made me say, ' Bless the Lord, and you 
too !' I have a distinct work assigned me at the Associa- 
tion to go around and visit the poor Sunday-schools." 

At a still later date Mr. Carter writes : " Yours came 
to hand some days ago. The papers and books were the 
right kind sent to the right man. I am sorry though that 
I delayed the answer. The reason is I have been called off 
to make temperance speeches for a week, and I thank the 
Lord that my word accomplished the purpose for which it 
was sent and that prohibition we have got in ninety-eight 
counties. You asked me if I am a Baptist. I am the pas- 
tor of the Friendship Baptist Church, and I hope you are a 
good Baptist. I hope I am a true Baptist. You need not 
fear. All is well and the Lord is blessing my work. I am 
under many obligations to you for all the books." 

Mr. Messer has also received interesting and grateful 
letters from Rev. A. H. Conway, of Wilmington, N. C, 
and from Rev. John H. Quiatt, of Virginia. 

A letter from Mr. Quiatt tells about Christmas in his 
school : " I think you would be interested to know what I 
did with the pictures you sent me. After I had talked 
from them the sisters of the church took them, framed 
them with ivy leaves, and put two by the pulpit, two on 
each side, and one over the door. That is the way we 
trimmed the church for Christmas. We had a revival this 
winter, and there were added to the church seventeen 
souls. Five of them were Sunday-school scholars." 

The above are specimens of many letters which Mr. 
Messer has received from those who are either teaching or 
preaching in the places from whence they came. Nor are 
these all the letters which are received. That there is 
great affection between the teachers and pupils of the Pri* 
mary Department of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Sun- 
day-school is evident from the childish epistles which come 
to the teachers now and then. One little girl of five years 
writes in big letters : 

"Owego, August 30. 

" Dear Mr. Messer : the last time i was at Sunday 
school you was not there so i could not say good bye. i 
am in Owego on a farm, i fed the sheap salt last night, i 



204 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

went to Sunday school yesterday and learnt the text let not 
your heart be trembled, if you cant read this my papa will 
for you, cause i write to him often, there is a river here it 
is the susqannah but it is not as nice as the Hudson." * * * 
Papa said I could give my love to Beulah. i did this all 
alone. Mamma told me how to spell the words. I had 
some nice drives since i been here, i will be back before 
Christmas to Sunday school, this is from 

" P. S.— good bye. ****» 

The school, in company with the teachers and pupils 
with their friends, numbering some 1,500, went on their 
annual excursion in July, 1887. The steamboat "Siritts" 
took them to Oscawana Island up the Hudson. The excur- 
sion was a great success every way, and to the indefatiga- 
ble efforts of Chairman Airey, of the committee in charge, 
must the credit in a large measure be awarded. 

The secretary's report for 1888 is as follows: 

Enrolment -.- - - 413 

Total attendance -------- 12,286 

Average " --------- 236 

Largest " - - 313 

Deaths during the year --. 1 

Members uniting with the church ----- I2 
Officers, teachers, and scholars who are members of the 

church - - - - -~~ - - - - I2 6 

The school has a class-attendance banner, which is 
given to and held by the class for three months which has 
had the highest average attendance for that length of time. 

Banner awarded for largest percentage of attendance 
during first quarter, 1889, to Class No. 2, taught by J. W. 
Ackerman. Second quarter, 1889, to Class No. 28, taught 
by Miss M. Yerks. 

The Adults' Bible-class, taught by Mr. C. D. Wyman, 
has grown to be one of the most interesting in the school. 
Upwards of fifty names are enrolled, and a goodly propor- 
tion are in attendance each Sabbath. 

The treasurer's report for the year ending December, 

1888: 

Total receipts $409 85 

Disbursements - 342 28 

Balance in the treasury January 1, 1889 - - - - 67 57 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 205 

Missionary Fund — total receipts ----- $306 39 

Paid for benevolent purposes ------ 180 64 

Balance 125 75 

J. W. ACKERMAN, Treasurer. 

From January to September, 1889, sixteen scholars 
united with the church from the Sunday-school. 

The officers of the school in 1887 to September, 1889, 
were : George M. Bailey, Superintendent ; Stanley H. Ray, 
Assistant Superintendent; George Ackerman, Secretary; 
John W. Ackerman, Treasurer ; Orville B. Ackerly, Libra- 
rian ; Henry Middlebrook, Assistant Librarian ; George 
Weller, Collector. 

In September, 1889, Superintendent George M. Bailey, 
"under whose wise and genial direction the Sunday-school 
has been for several years prospering," was obliged to re- 
sign on account of failing health. " It was the wish of the 
teachers to reelect him and wait for him to recover, but he 
declined to have it so. But he was elected for life to fill a 
great place in our esteem and affection." 

The spacious Sunday-school room of the Warburton 
Avenue Baptist Church presented a scene of animation at 
the annual Christmas celebration of 1888, and the cheerful 
countenances of nearly 400 happy children lent enchant, 
ment to the scene. On the platform could be seen the res- 
idence of Santa Claus, the roof covered with snow and the 
chimney painted a bright red. Superintendent George M. 
Bailey presided, and Assistant Superintendent Stanley H. 
Ray assisted. The attendance of friends was very large. 
Some could not get seats and some could not get within 
the hall door at all. 

The exercises began by the singing of the carol " Jubi- 
lant Bells." This was followed by opening remarks by the 
Superintendent, and Scripture reading and prayer by the 
pastor. " Once in Royal David's City " was then sung, and 
Rev. Dr. Hobart made a brief address. The programme 
was then continued as follows : 

Carol — Oh Sing of His Praise. 

Recitation — Floe's Letter Clara Carpenter. 

Recitation — Emily Jane Geraldine Helmsley. 

Performance by the Kazoo Quartette. 
Dialogue — Colloquy in Church - Maggie Monroe and Mary Anderson. 



206 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Recitation — Fate of Mary's Two Canaries - Arthur Ray. 

Recitation — Japanese Girl in Costume -•--'. Lizzie Ramage. 

Carol — Room for the New-Born King. 
Recitation — The Granted Wish - - - Nettie Ewald. 

Recitation — Whistling in Heaven - - - - Myra Corwin. 

Kinder Symphony. 
Recitation — Christmas Dolly - Sadie Monrpe. 

Dialogue — Practical Lesson in the Beginning of Bad Citizens — 

Jessie Corwin, Master Simpson, Hattie Fisher, and Davy Fisher. 
Recitation — The Old Woman in the Shoe - - Fanny S. Bailey. 

Recitation — Our Christmas - Maggie Monroe. 

The several pieces were well spoken, and the recitation 
" Whistling in Heaven," by Miss Myra Corwin, deserves 
special commendation. 

At this point smoke was seen to issue from the chim- 
ney of the cottage of Santa Claus on the stage, and soon 
his head was seen peering out of the chimney. He then 
came out by the door and made a speech. The children 
were then supplied each with a ticket, and this procured 
for each a box of candy at the door at the going out. 

The Christmas services of the Sunday-school on De- 
cember 28, 1890, were held on Sunday afternoon in the 
church. The Mission School had been invited and occu- 
pied the rear pews, while the galleries were filled with 
spectators. Upon the platform were James G. Affieck, the 
Superintendent, and Rev. Dr. Alvah S. Hobart, the pastor. 

The scholars and teachers marched into the church 
singing "Jerusalem the Golden." After prayer by the 
pastor, opening exercises were conducted by the Primary 
Department. The programme that followed was in four 
divisions, the scholars reciting or singing their various parts. 

The First Division consisted as follows : 

Joy Over the Child Jesus — 

Ferdie Hughes, Rose Ewald, John Monroe, Larissa and Ray 

Carpenter. 
Childhood of Jesus — 

Maud Cox, Ida Wallin, Willie Wallin, Ida Maltby, Jennie 

Campbell, Lottie Vought, Susie Weir, Willie Watts, Freddie 

Mueller, George Beckwith. 

Second Division : 

The Works of Jesus — 

Nellie Bartlett, Stella Bailey, Ada Newman, Eva Storms, Ber- 
tie Bell, Myra Corwin. 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 20J 

Jesus' Power Over Sin — 

Review by pastor and school. 

Third Division : 

The Words of Jesus — 

Sarah Beckwith, Edna Randall, May Tarbell, Emily Kipp, 
Nellie Drummon, Naomi Rigby, Lillian Howes, Alice Wy- 
man, Henry Myers. 

Fourth Division — Passion Week : 

The Death of Jesus- 
Miss L. Graham ; solo " He was Despised," Miss Beree. 

The Resurrection of Jesus — 

Miss Roach; quartette, "Magdalene," Miss Haring, Miss 
Beree, Mr. Gardinier, Mr. Cole. 

Appropriate songs were given by the school. 

After the exercises five young men were united with 
the church by baptism. 

Mrs. James B. Colgate has been connected with this 
school since 1861, and is among the honorary list of Sun- 
day-school teachers in Yonkers. She has charge of a 
bright and intelligent class of young ladies which meets in 
the church parlor. Some of the teachers in the home and 
mission Sunday-schools have received their training under 
her instruction, and a number of the members of this class 
at the present time are teachers in the afternoon mission 
school. 

This class and its beloved teacher are especially hon- 
ored in that one of their number, Miss Lena T. Leeds, was 
under appointment as missionary by the Woman's Foreign 
Missionary Society of the Baptist Church in 1887. Miss 
Leeds, with this end in view, took a preparatory course of 
study in Colby Academy, at New London, N. H. At the 
end of her course, finding that her health would not permit 
her to labor in a foreign field, she accepted a position as 
missionary under the Woman's Branch of City Missions in 
New York. Miss Leeds has abilities which peculiarly fit 
her for her noble work and is very successful in it. 

The scholars of the home and mission schools cele- 
brated Children's Day in the Warburton Avenue Baptist 
Church on Sunday afternoon June 8, 1890. There were 
about 1,000 scholars seated in the body of the church, 



208 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

while the galleries were filled with parents and friends. 
The platform was richly decorated with palms and bunches 
of cut flowers. 

James M. Hunt, Superintendent of the home school, 
presided, and Prof. Edwin Moore led the singing. The 
order of exercises consisted of singing, "Holy, Holy, 
Holy;" prayer by Mr. Hunt; hymn, " Grander than Ocean's 
Story;" responsive reading from Luke 11:1-13, led by 
Superintendent William H. Baldwin, of the mission school ; 
prayer by Rev. Dr. Hobart, and chanting of the Lord's 
Prayer by the children; semi -chorus, " Great King of 
Glory, Come!" "Little Children, Jesus Calls You," by 
infant department of the mission school. Recitations were 
given as follows : " Springtime," by Grace Narr and Har- 
old Searles ; "Jesus' Little Blossoms," by Fernando and 
Edwin Hughes ; " Speaking for Jesus," by Ethel Phillips. 
" Forward Be Our Watchword," was sung by the scholars; 
" Sunbeams " was recited by Gertie Church, and " Kind 
Words," by Willie Hopperton. 

Rev. Dr. Alvah S. Hobart, the pastor of the church, 
made a short address of welcome to the scholars and 
friends, and said he was glad to see so many of the chil- 
dren in the house of God. He asked some review ques- 
tions on the Sunday-school lessons of the last quarter 
which were promptly answered by the scholars. He then 
requested all the scholars present who had come into the 
membership of the church from the Sunday-schools, and 
whom he had baptized, to come forward. About fifty re- 
sponded, and the pastor gave each a small book containing 
helpful Christian reading. 

Myra Corwin followed with a recitation ; and " Wel- 
come, Happy Summer," was sung by the semi-chorus. A 
collection was taken for the benefit of the poor fund of the 
Mission School, and the exercises closed with the singing 
of " Coronation." 

The Young People's Association of the Warburton 
Avenue Baptist Church and Mission Chapel was organized 
October 20, 1889. The work of the Association is divided 
into four departments: 1. Social and Membership. 2. 
Prayer-meeting. 3. Missionary. 4. Evangelistic. 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 209 

There are seventy-seven names enrolled as charter 
members. There is a recruiting work going on now in 
the missionary department of the Young People's Associa- 
tion. They hold monthly meetings for the study of mis- 
sions and are doing a very excellent work. Its present 
officers are the following : J. M. Hunt, President ; James 
Howes and Miss F. J. Parsons, Vice-Presidents ; F. O. 
Freethy, Secretary ; Miss J. Prote, Treasurer. 

The Treasurer's report of the school for the year end- 
ing December 1889, is as follows: Receipts $412 31; dis- 
bursements, $288 95; balance, $123 36. Mission Fund: 
Receipts, $306 87 ; disbursements, §265 ; balance, $41 87. 

The correctness and completeness which mark the 
record books of this school are worthy of mention. John 
W. Ackerman has been Treasurer of this school for twenty 
years, and has performed the duties of the office with ac- 
ceptability and fidelity. 

The teachers of this school meet every Friday evening 
with the teachers of the Nepperhan Avenue Baptist Mis- 
sion School for the study of the lesson. These meetings 
are conducted by Elmer L. Manning and Franklin Airey, 
the latter of whom illustrates the lesson by blackboard ex- 
ercises. At the close of the meeting hektograph copies of 
the illustrations are distributed which are helpful for the 
preparation of the lesson. 

This school has not only the privilege of preparing 
two of its pupils for missionary work in the foreign field, 
but also the training of a loved and honored superin- 
tendent, George M. Bailey,* who from childhood had been 

* On Monday afternoon, October 13, 1890, George M. Bailey entered 
into life eternal. Funeral services were held in the Warburton Avenue 
Baptist Church at three o'clock on Thursday afternoon, October 16. Rev. 
Dr. Alvah S. Hobart officiated, and with Rev. Henry M. Sanders and 
George D. Mackay spoke fittingly and eloquently of his sweet, manly 
life. The church was clad in an attire of blossoms white as angels are. 
Palms, the symbol of our Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, overhung 
the face of the departed. Songs by loving voices long time ago tuned to 
his not only in earthly songs, but in the higher, holier melodies of Chris- 
tian faith, a circle of near relatives who in their sorrow lifted up their 
hearts to Jesus with mingled prayers and thanksgivings — all these made 
the day a day to be remembered as one of those of which it is said, " It is 
better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting." "O 

Sunday-school Wort. \A 



2IO CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

connected with the school, till his resignation in Septem- 
ber, 1889. His deep interest in the work and workers was 
abundantly testified by the fervent prayers and earnest ex- 
hortations from the superintendent's desk. 

The Superintendent, James G. Affleck organized the 
Boys' Brigade January, 1891. They have a weekly exer- 
cise (Monday evenings) in military drill and study of those 
Scriptures which have to do with the soldierly qualities of 
Christian life. They drill half an hour and then study 
half an hour. 

The terms of membership are attendance at the school 
and abstinence from tobacco and alcoholic stimulants. 
Mr. Arbuckle, who is sergeant of the Fourth Separate 
Company, N. G. S. N. Y., is the drill-master of the brigade. 
There are about forty members of the brigade. 

The number of scholars April, 1891, is 400. 

The lesson helps used by this school are from the 
American Baptist Publication Society and are " The Bap- 
tist Teacher," which is used by the teachers, " The Semi- 
Quarterly," " The Advanced Quarterly " for the Bible 
classes, and the " Intermediate Quarterly " and " Primary 
Quarterly " for the younger members and children of the 
Primary department. The Sunday-school papers circu- 
lated in the school are " The Young Reaper " and " Our 
Little Ones." The singing books used are " The Gospel 
Praise Book," " The New Alleluia," and " Select Gems." 

The names of the superintendents in the order of their 
service are as follows : Benjamin Franklin Crane, Deacon 
Benjamin Longstreet, Peter F. Peek, who served for 
nearly eight years, his term of service ending December 
1862; from 1862 until 1866 James Youmans and Robert 
Rich were the superintendents, the latter serving a little 
over two years ; William Gray was elected February 7, 
1866 ; Heman L. White, who was the superintendent when 
the Sunday-school entered the new chapel, June 20, 1 869 ; 
Deacon William Holme, who held the office for thirteen 
years until 1882 ; Julius B. Briggs, 1883 ; Reuben T. Pettin- 
gil, 1884-5 i George M. Bailey, who was elected January, 

grave, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting ?" " Thanks be 
to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ." 



WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 211 

1886, resigned September, 1889; James M. Hunt, elected 
January, 1890, resigned November, 1890; the present su- 
perintendent, James G. Affleck was elected December, 
1890. 

The present officers of the school are : James G. Affleck, 
Superintendent ; John W. Arbuckle Assistant-Superintend- 
ent ; Coleman Carpenter, Secretary ; James E. Howes, 
Treasurer ; Harry Middlebrook, Librarian ; Chester W. 
Newman, Assistant-Librarian ; Thomas H. Messer, Direc- 
tor Primary Department, assisted by Miss Beulah Messer. 

Musicians: Miss H. G. Newman, piano; Mr. E. O. 
Carpenter, Jr., violin ; Mr. C. H. Desgrey, violin. 

Teachers : Miss H. M. Blanchard, Miss G. L. Burns, 
Mrs. A. M. Beckwith, Miss E. Coapman, Mrs. W. Sykes, 
Miss K. A. Graham, Miss C. A. Mann, Miss F. B. Drum- 
mon, Miss H. E. Burns, Miss H. G. Newman, Miss A. 
Okell, Miss M. Palmer, Miss D. Drummon, Mrs. A. T. Neil, 
Miss J. Hull, Miss M. Colgate, Miss M. Holden, Mrs. A. S. 
Hobart, Mrs. J. B. Colgate, Miss F. J. Parsons, Mr. C. D. 
Wyman, Miss Annie Kipp, Miss E. F. Coles, Miss Olivia 
Burns, Miss E. G. Gault, Mrs. J. Irving Burns, Miss N. 
Allen, Mr. J. Tackman, Mr. R. Edie, Jr., Mr. G. P. Holden, 
Mr. M. Sherwood, Mr. J. E. Howes, Mr. G. T. Leeds, and 
Mr. Frank R. Hathaway. 

Sub-Teachers, etc. : Miss P. Van Tassell, Miss H. A. 
Middlebrook, Miss M. L. Fuller, Mr. A. D. Ballard, Miss L. 
East. 



212 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

CHAPTER IX. 

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

The facts concerning the organization of the First 
Presbyterian Church of Yonkers have been obtained from 
the historical discourse preached by Rev. T. Ralston Smith, 
D. D., on Sunday morning July 2, 1876, and by correspond- 
ence with several of the early members of the church. 

The sermon was delivered in compliance with the 
request of the Presbyterian General Assembly "that the 
first Sabbath in July, 1876, be observed as a day of praise 
and thanksgiving to God for the manifold blessings with 
which he has crowned us as a people ; and that the pastor 
of each church under the jurisdiction of the Assembly de- 
liver, on that day, a discourse on the history of that particu- 
lar church." 

After a general introduction in regard to the patriotic 
and religious observance of this great national anniversary 
season, Rev. Dr. Smith said : 

"On the 26th of April, 1852, the First Presbyterian 
Church of Yonkers was duly organized. The Rev. David 
Coe, D. D., secretary of the American Home Missionary 
Society, presided at the meeting at which the church was 
organized — though the certificate of incorporation, signed 
by David Stewart and Lemuel W. Wells, is dated April 20. 
It was composed entirely of persons who were then in the 
communion of the Reformed Dutch Church. They had there 
found a home which accorded more nearly with their 
ecclesiastical preferences than any which could be afforded 
them by the other churches of the village ; but their early 
associations and preferences prepared them, when the way 
seemed providentially opened, to seek the communion of a 
distinct though kindred body. 

" It was at first believed that the entire church was 
ready to transfer its relations to the Presbyterian General 
Assembly.* 

* The following minute is from the church record book : " September 
2, 1851, a meeting was called for full discussion of the point suggested by 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 213 

" At the date already given, a meeting of the church 
adopted a formal resolution to change its ecclesiastical con- 
nection. The name which we now bear was adopted, and 
the standards of the Presbyterian Church were taken as the 
basis of the new organization, which was duly recognized 
by the third Presbytery of New York, and received under 
its care on the 10th of May, 1852, just a fortnight after the 
change had been effected. This transfer included the 
pastor, the Rev. Dwight M. Seward, who had accepted a 
call to the Dutch Church on the 3d of December, 1850, and 
had been installed by the Classis of New York on the 1 2th 
of February, 185 1. The pastoral relation continued there- 
fore undisturbed, and called for no action on the part of the 
Presbytery. The members of the Consistory had resigned 
their places, and Messrs. Lemuel W. Wells and Samuel S. 
Barry were chosen ruling elders. The term of service of 
these officers was fixed at two years, and this provision 
continued in force until the annual meeting of the church 
in 1875, when the period of service was extended to three 
years. 

" It soon became apparent, however, that the action of 
April 26th had not in fact carried with it, or at least had not 
continued to command, the assent of the entire church. 
Negotiations followed with a view to the adjustment of all 
the interests involved, on a basis mutually satisfactory. 
The church building, the same which still stands on South 
Broadway, though it has since then been enlarged and 
beautified, was relinquished to those who desired to per- 
petuate the old organization. The records were delivered 
to the custody of the new Consistory. Our own church 
retained the building then used as a parsonage ; but it was 
without an established place of worship from the close of 
Sunday, September 19, 1852, until the 24 of May, 1854." 

After the withdrawal of the members from the Re- 
formed Church and congregation, who comprised the first 
congregation of this church, steps were taken to secure 
a place of worship. The pastor, Rev. D. Henry Miller, and 
people of the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church kindly tendered 

your circumstances and voted with unanimity to change the denominational 
relations." 



214 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

to them the use of their church for Sunday afternoons. 
This very generous offer was respectfully declined with 
a vote of thanks. 

They having secured a hall in the Getty House, their 
services were held there on Sunday morning, September 
19, 1852. 

When the question of the site was agitated for this 
new church building some of the friends of the enterprise 
were in favor of selecting that where the Westminster 
Presbyterian Church now stands, but the majority decided 
upon the present location — on North Broadway corner of 
Quincy Place. The site was very generously given by Mr. 
Ethan Flagg. David Burns, who for a number of years 
was the energetic and efficient sexton, under the direction 
of Mr. Flagg, broke the ground for the foundation of the 
church building. 

The present church edifice was commenced November 
15, 1853, an d the corner-stone was laid on June 22, 1853. 
Of that event a former member of the church writes from 
Denver, Col., April 30, 1888: "I remember the day was 
very sultry, followed, at the time of the ceremony, by a 
severe storm. So the service was adjourned to the Method- 
ist Church on North Broadway." 

Rev. Dr. Tyng and the Rev. Dr. Hatfield took part in 
the services. A dedicatory hymn, written for the occasion 
by the pastor, Rev. Dr. Seward, was also sung at the laying 
of the corner-stone. 

The church was dedicated May 24, 1854, Rev. Asa D. 
Smith, D. D., preaching the dedicatory sermon. At these 
services the choir chanted the following selection from the 
24th Psalm : " Lift up your heads, O ye gates, even lift 
them up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall 
come in. Who is the King of glory ? The Lord of hosts, 
he is the King of glory. Selah." 

On a white marble tablet over the main entrance to the 
church is inscribed, " First Presbyterian Church. Erected 
A. D., 1853." 

The bell was purchased for the sum of $578, from the 
proceeds of the sale of pews, on May 29, 1854. The first 
pew was purchased by Lemuel Watts Wells, for $1,000. 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 215 

The entire cost of the church, including furniture, but ex- 
cluding the ground, was $32,330. 

The following persons composed the building commit- 
tee : Ethan Flagg, Robert P. Getty, James Scrymser, John 
Olmsted and Joseph S. Hawkins. The architect was Thos. 
C. Cornell and the builders Messrs. Millard & Post, of 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 

The debt of the church after its dedication in 1854 
was $16,000. The building was originally constructed 
without galleries, but these were introduced in 1 860, chiefly 
to remedy a defect in the acoustics of the building. The 
work was completed December 8, at a cost, including 
other changes, of about $3,400. A necessary alteration 
of these galleries and of the ceiling, completed in Octo- 
ber, 1868, entailed a farther expenditure of $3,350; while 
in 1869, by generous private subscription, the pulpit and 
recess of the church were entirely remodelled at a cost 
of $422. 

Rev. Dr. Smith, in his brief review of the pastorates 
and work of the church, spoke as follows of Dr. Seward's 
ministrations : " During Dr. Seward's ministry, 342 per- 
sons were received by letter from other churches of Christ, 
and 178 were added on profession of their faith, a yearly 
average of nearly 19 by letter and nearly 10 on profession. 

"In January, 1858, eighteen members of the First 
Church received letters of dismission, and were organized 
on the 3d of February, by the Third Presbytery of New 
York, into the ' Westminster Church.' 

" The first period of our history that was marked by an 
unusual religious interest occurred in 1858, a year memora- 
ble, as many of you will recall, for a work of grace which 
spread through the entire land, and which was distin- 
guished by some peculiar and interesting features — notably 
among these, the great attention given to prayer, and the 
striking development of the spiritual power of the laity. 
In that year 56 professed their faith in Christ in this sanc- 
tuary. 

" The next most fruitful year in this respect was 1868, 
when 1 7 were added on profession ; while the following 
year, 1869, was marked by a similar addition of 15, 



2l6 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

" It is a fact which strikingly illustrates the changeable 
character of our population, that during the ministry of 
Dr. Seward, 181 communicants were dismissed to other 
churches, including one who was ordained to the gospel 
ministry. This number constitutes nearly one-third of the 
entire list as it stood at the close of his pastoral work. 

" During the same time, also, 42 communicants were 
called away by death, making the total reduction in num- 
bers 223, and leaving on the roll, in June, 1870, 343, not 
a few of whom, however, were no longer resident within 
the bounds of the church. 

"It is worthy of mention that the number of adults 
baptized during the period now under review was only 18, 
or about one-tenth of the entire number received on profes- 
sion ; a fact which shows that by far the greater proportion 
of all who were so received had been members of Christian 
households, and had been subjected in greater or less de- 
gree to those domestic religious influences which God's 
covenant so greatly honors, and which are so helpful to 
every pastor. 

" The children baptized by Dr. Seward number 172. 

" It was just at the close of Dr. Seward's labors among 
you that one of the most important events occurred which 
distinguish the history of the Christian church in this land. 
I refer to the union of the two great branches of the Pres- 
byterian body in these United States, then popularly known 
as the Old and New School. 

" This reunion involved in its results the erection of 
the new Synod of New York, and the Presbytery of West- 
chester, of which latter body the church became a part on 
the 21st of June, 1870; the old Third Presbytery of New 
York having then been dissolved by the reconstruction acts 
of the Synod of New York. 

" The constitution of the new pastoral relation here de- 
volved, of course, upon the Presbytery of Westchester. 
But before it was called to act in such a proceeding, there 
was an interval of some months, during which the church 
was without pastoral care. It was exactly half a year before 
the call was extended to the present pastor, the date of it 
being December 20, 1870. The installation, however, did 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 2\J 

not take place until the first of March, 1871. The pulpit 
was occupied from January of that year, but your pastor 
did not become resident among- you till the end of April. 

" During the interval five persons were received into 
the communion of the church, three of them by letter, and 
two on profession of faith, both of whom were baptized. 
Six were dismissed to other churches, and a like number 
were removed by death." 

In regard to Rev. Dr. Smith's not completed pastorate, 
he says in his discourse : 

" Of my own ministry among you it becomes me to say 
nothing, further than to give you those bare statistics with- 
out which the requisite history would not be complete. 
The present pastoral relation has now subsisted just five 
years and four months. The whole number of additions to 
our communion during this period has been 165, an ave- 
rage of almost exactly 3 1 for each year. Of these, 70 have 
been received from other churches by certificate, and 95 
have been admitted on profession of faith ; making an 
annual average of rather more than 1 3 by letter and nearly 
18 on profession. The two most fruitful years in the way 
of additions were 1874 and 1875, in each of which, besides 
additions by letter, 31 who gave hopeful evidences of con- 
version were received to the privileges of the church. And 
already, during the present year, 18 have here professed 
their faith in Christ, The number of adults I have baptized 
on their admission to the church is 19, and the number of 
infants baptized during my pastorate is 63. 

" Since my work among you began 69 members have 
left us for other churches, not a few of whom had already 
removed and were never really under my pastoral charge ; 
and 21 have deceased. 

" Bringing now all the figures I have so far given into 
one single statement, we find that to the original number of 
46 communicants, 41 5 have been added by letter, and 275 on 
profession, making a total of 736. Of these, so far as 
our records indicate, 256 have been transferred to other 
churches and 71 have died, leaving still upon the rolls of 
the church the names of 409 communicants. The average 
annual addition since the church was organized have been 



2l8 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

17 by letter, and a little over 10 by profession. The aggre- 
gate of adult baptisms is 39, and the whole number of chil- 
dren baptized is 235." 

It was during Rev. Dr. Smith's pastorate that the first 
manse with its grounds adjoining the church, a valuable 
property, was purchased April 11, 187 1. It was also during 
that year that a Mission Chapel was erected on Nodine Hill, 
where for some time a devotional Sunday afternoon service 
had been carried on. The Day spring Chapel was dedi- 
cated April 28, 1872. After seven years of missionary labor 
in connection with this, the Dayspring Church was organ- 
ized by the Presbytery of Westchester on May 13, 1879. 
Eighty-two members of the First Church received letters 
of dismission to the new church. 

We find the benevolent gifts for twenty-three years 
amounted to $94,438, an average for each year of $4,106. 

In compiling these statistics Dr. Smith said: "I have 
freely included the private gifts of our members to estab- 
lished Christian and charitable objects so far as these have 
been reported, although they may not have passed through 
the treasury of the church ; yet there are doubtless hun- 
dreds and possibly thousands of dollars which have thus 
been given without my knowledge, and which would mate- 
rially swell the aggregate sums already stated. There is 
not, however, included in this presentation a dollar of the 
amounts expended for our own particular congregational 
uses, which of course would reach a total of many thou- 
sands more." 

In concluding he said : " Such, dear brethren, is an 
external view of the history which I am permitted to lay 
before you. It appeals throughout to our deepest sense of 
gratitude, and calls upon us to raise our hearts and voices 
in earnest praise to Him who has given us these successes 
and this encouraging prosperity. 

" If you miss anything from this recital, it will only be, 
I imagine, that element in our church life which pen can- 
not record upon paper, and to which the voice can give no 
adequate expression. 

" The self-denial so abundantly practised by the Chris- 
tion men and women, who have been as careful to shrink 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 219 

from notoriety as they have been laborious and generous 
in times of need, deprecates and indeed forbids any per- 
sonal and elaborate recognition. Some of those who have 
made many sacrifices for the church in its days of early 
need, have gone up on high to receive the approbation of a 
Master whose lightest word infinitely outweighs the loudest 
and most prolonged human applause. Others still remain, 
to find new joy, I trust, in new labors for the Master. 

" The revivals in the church may be described as to 
their immediate tangible results, but who can undertake to 
unfold their actual and far-reaching influences ? 

" And who is able to tell what influences for good have 
gone abroad from this church, as one after another has been 
called by his Lord to go to another field, and work out the 
principles imbibed and the impulses received in this sanc- 
tuary ? 

" I leave all these things from very necessity to your 
own thoughts. Written history is a thread upon which 
every man, woman, and child may hang a jewel that the 
hand which stretched the thread could not supply ; and so 
to you and me there is a wealth in the story of our church 
— some of it yours and some of it mine — which makes it 
more precious than any array of facts, however opulent, 
can render it to a stranger." 

During the summer of 1880 the chapel in the rear of 
the church was erected. On the first floor is a lecture- 
room, pastor's study, and session-room. All these are con- 
veniently and attractively furnished. On the second floor 
are rooms for the Sunday-school, the Primary Department, 
and the library. There are two entrances to the chapel, 
one on the south through the grounds of the manse, and 
the other, the main entrance, on Quincy Place. 

The interior of the church was at the same time 
greatly improved and beautified, being frescoed and sup- 
plied with stained-glass windows, the gift of William Allen 
Butler. It was newly carpeted throughout through the 
generosity of Charles Lockwood, and the organ gallery 
fitted up with pews, the organ having been removed to the 
rear of the pulpit. 

A meeting of the church and congregation was held 



220 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

on Thursday evening, February 14, 1884, in the lecture- 
room for the purpose of receiving a communication which 
had been sent to the Board of Trustees by Walter W. Law, 
Esq. This communication contained an offer by Mr. Law 
to purchase and cancel the existing indebtedness of the 
church, amounting to $10,000, provided the pastor's salary 
be increased by the amount of the interest on the $10,000. 

William Allen Butler was appointed chairman of the 
meeting and J. W. Skinner secretary. 

After the reading of Mr. Law's proposition it was 
unanimously 

Resolved, That this magnificent oifer of Mr. Law is 
hereby accepted and the yearly salary of Rev. John Reid, 
pastor of this church, be increased by the amount of inter- 
est formerly paid on the loan as long as he shall remain 
pastor of the church and congregation, this increase to 
date from the 15th of February, 1884. 

Resolved, That the trustees of this church and congre- 
gation carry into effect the foregoing resolution. 

Thereupon the bonds were produced, certified checks 
for the amount passed, and the bonds delivered to Mr. 
Law. 

At the suggestion of Rev. Mr. Reid that a fire was 
burning in the study adjacent, Mr. Law took the bonds and 
committed them to the flames in the presence of the trus- 
tees and the pastor. 

Mr. Reid then reported t© the congregation that the 
bonds had been offered up as a most acceptable burnt- 
offering and that nothing was left of them. 

Mr. Butler, the chairman, congratulated the meeting 
on this happy result. 

Mr. Law said : " It is a matter of satisfaction that my 
proposition has been attended with such good results. It 
is a part of our Christian faith that all our talents and 
property, all we have and are, belong to the Master. We 
are commanded to use them for Him who redeemed us. I 
should be wanting in duty if I should assume this gift as 
from myself alone. I owe it to the instructions and prayers 
of a blessed mother, which are always before me, that I am 
able to give. I want also to sustain our pastor in the 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 221 

preaching of the word at this time, when there is much of 
critical and religious doubt and scientific religion. Many 
are leading some to doubt the existence of a Father in 
heaven. I want to uphold one who upholds the truth. I 
hope this will be the beginning of better days, if God gives 
us the opportunity of doing good. Let us say, ' Not unto 
us, but unto Thy name, be all the praise.' " 

Mr. Lucius E. Clark said he thought it would be well 
to follow up the burnt-offering with a thank-offering. This 
could be in the shape of a subscription for a new manse. 

At Mr. Clark's suggestion a subscription was started 
for the purpose of building a new manse ; contributions 
were received from fifteen persons, amounting in the 
aggregate to $3,300, and a committee of five — Lucius E. 
Clark, John Watt, Alexander Halliday, William Allen 
Butler, Jr., and Alonzo H. Johnson — were appointed to 
solicit subscriptions to the new manse. 

The following notice in regard to this auspicious event 
appeared in the " New York Examiner and Chronicle," the 
organ of the Baptist Church : 

" Mr. Walter W. Law, of the firm of W. & J. Sloane, 
offered to pay the debt of $10,000 on the First Presbyterian 
Church of Yonkers, on condition that the amount of inter- 
est on the loan should be added to the pastor's salary. The 
condition was promptly met, and under the influence of 
this deed of generosity a committee was appointed to build 
a new manse, a thing beautiful in itself and made all the 
more beautiful in the way in which it was done and what 
has grown out of it." 

In 1884 the former manse was removed and the pres- 
ent brick structure was erected in its stead. On the front 
of this building is a brown stone tablet on which is in- 
scribed, " A. D. 1884." The members of the Sunday-school 
contributed $200 to a mantel for the manse. The church 
property is beautifully located and is entirely free from 
debt, 1 89 1. 

The spacious auditorium will seat about a thousand. 
At the annual meeting of the church and congregation 
held in April, 1891, steps were taken towards purchasing a 
new organ and entirely redecorating the edifice. 



222 



CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 




FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 223 

The affairs of the Missionary Association, organized 
November 2, 1871, are confided to an executive committee 
of twelve, composed, of the six elders of the church, and 
six members to be elected annually by the association. 
The pastor of the church is ex-officio a member of the com- 
mittee and president of the association. 

The following gentlemen are the members of the exec- 
utive committee of the Missionary Association having this 
under their charge : 

The Pastor, ex-officio. 

L. E. Clark, W. W. Law, Chairman, 

Theodore Gilman, W. R. Mott, Secretary, 

Hezekiah King, W. Olmsted, Treasurer, 

G. L. Morse, F. D. Blake, 

R. E. Prime, W. A. Butler, Jr., 

G. A. Chamberlin, [vacancy]. 

In 1886 it was resolved to erect a mission chapel on 
Nepperhan Avenue, north of Ashburton Avenue, in which 
neighborhood Sunday-school and other religious services 
had for about two years been conducted by members of the 
church. 

In May, 1887, the services of Rev. John S. Penman 
were secured as assistant to the pastor in connection with 
the work of Immanuel Chapel. Rev. Mr. Penman having 
resigned in January, 1888, his resignation was accepted, 
and in May, 1888, a call was extended to the Rev. J. Hen- 
drik de Vries. This call was accepted, and Rev. Mr. de 
Vries entered upon his labors as assistant to Pastor Reid, 
and took charge of the Immanuel Chapel work in June, 
1888. 

In 1887 a beautiful crimson plush mounting was placed 
around the galleries, and the three rows of cushioned bench 
seats along the length of the gallery were removed, except 
a section at the west ends next the pulpit, which remains 
as before. 

The space occupied by these three rows of seats was 
apportioned into compartments, furnished with movable 
chairs ; the floor is level, so that the chairs can be placed in 
any position the sitter prefers. The compartments are 
finely carpeted and handsomely finished. They are fur- 



224 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

nished with handsome oak chairs, upholstered in brown 
leather. 

There have been in this church three pastors, including 
to date thirty-eight years of pastoral labor. They are : 
Rev. Dwight M. Seward, D. D., May 10, 1852, to June 20, 
1870; Rev. T. Ralston Smith, D. D., March 1, 1871, to 
March 31, 1879; ^ ev - J * 111 Reid, installed November 6, 
1879. 

The total membership of the church from the begin- 
ning has been 1,333. The number of communicants at 
present is 591 ; 483 have been received during the present 
pastorate — 222 on profession and 261 by certificate. 

Rev. John Reid, D.D., pastor of the First Presbyterian 
Church, youngest son of Robert and Jean Wallace Reid, 
was born in St. John, N. B., November 19, 1850. His 
parents were both of Scotch birth. He attended the 
public schools of New York city and prepared for college 
at the University Grammar School under Moses M. Hobby. 
He entered the University of the City of New York in the 
fall of 1866, was graduated in June, 1870, entered Princeton 
Theological Seminary in the fall of 1 870, graduating there- 
from in April, 1873. He was licensed to preach by the 
Presbytery of Morris and Orange and ordained by them 
May 6, 1873. After two brief pastorates, which were both 
made short by illness in his family, he was installed pastor 
of the First Presbyterian Church at Hoboken, N. J., where 
he remained for three years. From there he was called 
to this church and was installed as its pastor November 6, 
1879. He was moderator of the Presbytery of Jersey City 
in 1876, was a commissioner to the General Assembly of 
1877, held in Chicago, and also to that of 1884, held in 
Saratoga, and to the Presbyterian Centennial Assembly 
held in the city of Philadelphia, May, 1888, of which he 
was made first temporary clerk. He was also appointed 
one of the representatives of the Presbyterian Church by 
that Assembly, to the Alliance of the Reformed Churches 
holding the Presbyterian System which was held in Exeter 
Hall, London, July, 1888. The degree of Doctor of Di- 
vinity was conferred upon him by the University of the 
City of New York, June 14, 1888, and he was elected a 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 225 

member of the Council of that University, November 9, 
1889. Rev. Dr. Reid is possessed of gifts which make a 
strong preacher. With a vivacious intellect well culti- 
vated and stored with knowledge, his sermons show pains- 
taking preparation and are models of choice language, 
being enriched with gleanings from his extensive readings. 
They may be characterized as spiritual, the aim of them 
being to set forth the inner sense of the Word of God, 
realizing that it is the Spirit which maketh alive. 

His style is elegant and finished, his oratory is grace- 
ful and effective, his manner is marked by a calm persua- 
siveness and the dignity of self-control, always regarding 
the sanctity of the pulpit. This is noticeable in the mo- 
ments of his most fervent eloquence. Loyal to Christ and 
his Gospel, he is ready to defend the right as it is given him 
to know it. 

As a pastor he is faithful and tender, extending his 
personal ministrations where they are most needed as well 
as where they are most welcome. 

The standing he has attained where he is best known, 
and the strong friends he has made, are but an index to 
the faithful manner in which he has wrought in God's 
vineyard. During Dr. Reid's incumbency there have been 
added to the church membership 483, and more than $200,- 
000 have been contributed to congregational and benevo- 
lent purposes. 

A commodious chapel has been added to the church, a 
substantial and beautiful manse erected, and a mission 
chapel built. The increased membership and large attend- 
ance of the congregation attest the acceptability of his 
pastorate. By the request of his congregation, Dr. Reid 
wears a Geneva gown in his pulpit ministrations. 

On Thursday evening November 7, 1889, the ladies of 
the Missionary Society of the church tendered a reception 
in observance of the tenth anniversary of Rev. Dr. John 
Reid's installation as pastor. The attendance was large 
and the pleasures of the evening were continuous. During 
the evening Dr. Reid was presented with a $1,000 bond as 
a gift from his people. William Allen Butler made the 
presentation speech and said : 

Sunday-school Work. 1 £ 



226 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

" The object that has brought us together is of interest 
to all. Ten years is a long time in the history of this 
church. We have been greatly favored, in the past, in all 
the pastors who have served the church. It is not often a 
layman has an opportunity to publicly talk to his pastor. 
This is my first opportunity in ten years, and I shall be 
careful, for I know not what may come during the next 
ten years. I think the preaching we have had during the 
last ten years will compare with that from any pulpit in 
the land. I think I can safely say that we have been in- 
terested, edified, and profited. Mr. Reid came to us a 
young man. He was subjected to that criticism always 
bestowed on one in so public a position. He fairly won 
our confidence, esteem, and affection." 

Dr. Reid responded in a very humorous vein, and in 
closing said : 

"This is not the first time I have received loving 
tokens of affection from this people. It is with the full- 
ness of love and with all my heart that I say 'Thank 
you!' May God's blessing cement the ties that bind 
pastor and people together." 

OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH FROM THE ORGANIZATION. 
Ruling Elders. 

Lemuel W. Wells, Ralph E. Prime, 

Samuel S. Barry, Charles Lockwood, 

Samuel D. Rockwell, William A. Gibson, 

Josiah Rich, Augustus Cruikshank, 

William C. Foote, John W. Skinner,f 

Hudson Kinsley, M. D., Walter W. Law, 

Jesse H. Tyler, Gabriel P. Reevs, 

William G. West, Lucius E. Clark, 

Stephen H. Thayer, Theodore Gilman, 

Jonathan F. Travis, Walter Graves, 

Richard Wynkoop, G. Livingstone Morse,* 
George A. Chamberlin. 

* Deceased January 12, 1891. 

t Extract from the Annual Report, 1889, of the Children's Aid Society 
of New York : " Mr. Skinner was one of those who lived 'in Christ,' and 
spent his life for the poorest of New York. He was superintendent of the 
Industrial Schools of the Children's Aid Society, which place he had filled 
for twenty-two years, having under his charge in the course of the year, 
about 10,000 different children, in 21 day-schools and 14 night-schools, with 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 



227 



Deacons. 



Duncan MacFarlane, 
John Nairn, 
Ralph Shipman, 
William Thompson, 
Clinton M. Davis, 
Richard Wynkoop, 
Thomas H. Cuthell, 



John Thomson, 
Patrick Kelly, 
John W. Rockwell, 

Evert B. Schoonmaker 
G. Livingstone Morse, 
Robert M. Reevs, 
Alonzo H. Johnson, 



Thomas Adam. 
The present officers of the church are as follows 

Ruling Elders. 



L. E. Clark, 
T. Gilman, 



R. E. Prime, 

G. A. Chamberlin. 



H. King, Clerk and Treasurer. 



John Thomson, 

E. B. Schoonmaker, 

J. Thomson, 

Trustees. 
W. F. Nisbet, Pres. G. A. Chamberlin, Sec 
John Jardine, W. B. Strang, 

H. H. Thayer, Geo. A. Flagg, 



Deacons. 

R. M. Reevs, 
Thomas Adam. 

Clerk and Treasurer. 



W. Olmsted, Treas. 
Adoniram Clark, 
J. G. Beemer. 



Members of the Music Committee appointed by the 
church session : 



The Pastor, Chairman, 

Wells Olmsted, Sec. and Treas. 



W. W. Ellsworth, 
Perit C. Myers. 



The following persons, assisted by a chorus of sixteen 
largely from the membership of the church, composed the 
choir: Albert E. Greenhalgh, Organist and Conductor; 
Mrs. A. E. Greenhalgh, Soprano ; Mrs. P. C. Myers, Con- 
tralto ; Harry Rawcliffe, Tenor; Frank E. De Frate, Basso. 

more than 100 teachers. Every teacher of the large force of the Society 
has looked upon Mr. Skinner as her personal friend, and the schools were 
filled with tearful children at the news of his departure. The most touch- 
ing offering at his funeral was his own chair filled with roses, a gift of the 
little wandering Italians of the West Side, as if they would say that 'after 
this no one was worthy to occupy this seat.' Amid all the grief at his 
death, no tears were so sincere and heartfelt as those among the outcast 

and destitute children of this great city His special qualities were 

faithfulness, disinterestedness, and universal courtesy to others, traits 
which sprang especially from the deep well of piety of his own heart. He 
leaves the memories of a life crowned with usefulness, filled with the 
service of humanity, glorified by patient and disinterested labors, and over- 
flowing: with the love of Christ and of God." 



228 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

This choir was succeeded in May, 1 891, by a boy choir of 
about twenty-five members under the direction of Mr. 
'Le Jeune, of St. John's Church, New York, with Mr. Felix 
Lamond as organist. 

The organ now in use was built by Hall & Labaugh 
in 1854, at a cost (as nearly as can be ascertained from the 
records) of $2,000. It was remodeled by George W. Earle 
in 1876, at an expense of $1,475. 

The ushers are Messrs. J. E. Jardine and H. G. 
Waring. 

The Ladies' Missionary Association of the church was 
organized in 1882 and is composed of three branches, repre- 
senting the Home, the Foreign, and the Local mission 
work of the church. Its first officers were : Miss Mary M. 
Butler, President; Mrs. William Allen Butler, Miss Mari- 
etta Flagg, Miss Anna H. Satterlee, Vice-Presidents ; Miss 
Kate S. Hawley, Secretary, Miss F. L. Upham, Treasurer. 

The Helping Hand was organized in the fall of 1887. 

The present officers of the Ladies' Missionary Associa- 
tion, April, 1 891, are as follows: Mrs. F. D. Blake, Presi- 
dent; Mrs. G. H. Chamberlin, Mrs,T. M. Lyall, Miss A. H. 
Satterlee, Vice-Presidents ; Miss Kate S. Hawley, Secre- 
tary ; Miss Maria Ewing, Treasurer ; Mrs. G. B. Balch, 
Missionary Visitor. It has a membership of 127. It raised 
for home, foreign, and local work in 1 888-1 889, $1,104 83, 
and in 1 889-1 890, $1,160. 

SCHEME OF THE BENEVOLENT CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE 

CHURCH. 

Collections are made on the morning of the first Lord's Day in the 
month. 

April, - - - Aid for Colleges and Academies. 

May, - Education for the Ministry. 

June, ..---- Bible Society. 

July, _.---. Sustentation. 

August, . _ . Publication. 

September, - Freedman. 

October, - American Tract Society. 

November, - Home Missions. 

December, - - - - Ministerial Relief. 

January, - Foreign Missions. 

February, ----- Church Erection. 

March, ----- Immanuel Chapel. 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 229 

The first pulpit Bible of this church is now used as the 
chapel Bible. On the cover is inscribed: " First Presby- 
terian Church." On the fly leaf is written : " Presented by 
John Davidson, Yonkers, May 21, 185 1." 

The present pulpit Bible is a very handsome one. It 
is an Oxford Bible and contains the Apocrypha. On the 
cover is inscribed : " First Presbyterian Church." It was a 
present from Philetus H. Holt, May 24, 1854. 

The communion table was presented by Mr. and Mrs. 
Richard W. Bogart. It bears this inscription in raised let- 
ters : " This do in remembrance of me." 

The baptismal font was the gift of Mrs. William Allen 
Butler and it has inscribed thereon : " One Lord, one faith, 
one baptism." 

Peter H. Havey has been the efficient sexton of this 
church for the past seven years, prior to which he was the 
assistant to William H. Veitch, who was the sexton for 
several years. 

CALENDAR OF CHURCH SERVICES. 

Divine service on the Lord's day at 10:45 A. m. and 4 P. M. 

Sabbath-school at 9:30 A. M. 

Beginning September 4 the hour of morning service is 
at 11 o'clock; Sabbath-school, 9:45. 

Weekly service of prayer and praise on Wednesday, at 
8 P. M. 

The sacrament of the Lord's Supper on the last Lord's 
day in January, March, May, July, September, and Novem- 
ber, in the afternoon. 

Service preparatory to the Lord's Supper on the 
Wednesday preceding, at 8 p.m. 

Public baptism of infants on the morning of the Lord's 
day next succeeding the communion. 

The regular meeting of the church session is held on 
the first Monday of each month, at 8 P. M. The meeting 
for admitting members to the church, at the close of each 
preparatory service. 

The annual meeting of the church for the election of 
elders and deacons is held on the Wednesday evening next 
succeeding the second Lord's day in March. 



230 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The annual meeting of the church and congregation 
for the election of trustees and other business is held on 
the Wednesday evening next succeeding the first Lord's 
day in May. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

This school, the ninth in order of the Sunday-schools 
of Yonkers, was organized in September, 1852. Lemuel 
Watts Wells and Duncan Macfarlane were prominent lead- 
ers in this new enterprise, and much of the success and 
prosperity of the school in the early days of its history, 
were due to the zeal and efficiency of these veteran Sun- 
day-school workers. The first session of the school was 
held in the Getty Lyceum, a public hall in the Getty House 
(which was built in 185 1-2 by Robert P. Getty), located on 
the southeast corner of Mechanic Street (now New Main 
Street) and South Broadway. 

Lemuel Watts Wells was the first superintendent, and 
the following persons, so far as can be ascertained, were 
among the teachers who taught in the Getty Lyceum : 
Samuel S. Barry, Ralph Shipman, Ethan Flagg, Dr. 
Levi W. Flagg, Samuel D. Rockwell,* Miss Lucy Flagg, 
Mrs. William L. Atwater, Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Under- 
wood. 

The school was held at nine o'clock in the morning 
and numbered between fifty and sixty scholars. It contin- 
ued to meet in this hall until the lecture-room in the base- 
ment of the church edifice on North Broadway (now the 
corner of Quincy Place and North Broadway) was com- 
pleted, May 24, 1854. 

* Samuel Darling Rockwell entered into the rest that remaineth for 
the people of God, on Friday, March 23, 1888. Mr. Rockwell was born in 
Ridgefield, Conn., January 23, 1810. In 1845 he came to Yonkers and 
erected a dwelling house on North Broadway, where the Presbyterian 
manse now stands. Mr. Rockwell was always intimately connected with 
all schemes for public improvement and was one of the founders of the 
Yonkers Savings Bank, and became its cashier. He was also especially 
interested in the welfare of the public schools. He was one of the found- 
ers of the First Presbyterian Church, of which he was an honored and 
esteemed member. Mr. Rockwell was chosen ruling elder in this church 
in 1854, and faithfully served the church in this capacity until July, 1876, 
with the exception of four years, from 1867 to 1871. 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 23 1 

The superintendent, Lemuel W. Wells, taught a class 
when the school met in the Getty Lyceum, also Miss Mc- 
Williams and Rev. Henry M. Baird (now Rev. H. M. Baird, 
D. D.). The latter having returned in the summer of 1853 
from a trip to Greece and Italy, resumed charge of the class 
of gdrls he had before taught in the Reformed Dutch 
Church Sunday-school, at the request of the scholars, who 
were Misses Mary E. Macfarlane, Anna Cantrell, Mary E. 
Mott, Sadie and Frances Rockwell, the latter being the late 
Mrs. John H. Riker. 

Rev. Mr. Baird taught this class until he went to be 
tutor in Princeton College, where he remained for four 
years — 1855-59. From the time he returned to Yonkers 
again (having been appointed professor in the Xew York 
University in 1859") ^- e ^ a( ^ Bible classes, at one time for 
young men, and at another for young ladies. The mem- 
bers of the last class which he taught, in 1883, ^~ere Misses 
Harriet Butler, S. Hermance, Daniels, M. Stewart, Belle 
Ewing, J- Edgar, Mary Ketcham, Marcia Flagg (now Mrs. 
Charles H. Butler), and Julia Baird. Some of the mem- 
bers of this class are now teachers either in the home or 
mission school connected with this church, while others of 
his former classes are filling positions of responsibility and 
usefulness in other fields of labor. 

The school during its early history was noted for the 
large number of its adult Bible-classes, Rev. W. W. Rand 
(now Rev. Dr. Rand), Dr. Kingsley, Benjamin Mason, and 
George W. Francis* teaching classes either of young men 
or young ladies. 

* George W. Francis entered into life eternal from his home in Yon- 
kers on Tuesday afternoon, May 1, 18SS. He was born at Pittsfield, Mass., 
September 29, 1799. After being graduated from Williams College in 1826 
he studied law and was admitted to practice in 1S29. In 1S45 he came to 
Yonkers and took charge of a school for boys. He remained the success- 
ful teacher of this school until i860, when he finally retired from his profes- 
sion as teacher and entered into business. He was one of the original 
members of the First Presbyterian Church and for a brief period a teacher 
in its Sunday-school. After his withdrawal from the Sunday-school he 
taught a class of young men who were connected with his school which 
met at his residence. Mr. Francis was a regular attendant at the church 
prayer-meeting so long as his health permitted. He was one of the few 
who are evergreens in the church and who always stand by its lamp when 



232 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Lemuel W. Wells resigned the superintendency of 
this school and was succeeded by Josiah Rich. 

After his retirement Mr. Wells continued his connec- 
tion with the school for a number of years, taking charge 
of a Bible-class, his final withdrawal being occasioned by 
his failure in health. He ever manifested a warm interest 
in the work and workers, often encouraging them with his 
presence in the school and his kind and cheery greetings. 
He was suddenly summoned into the " presence of the 
King" in the "New Jerusalem," September u, 1861, leav- 
ing behind him a bright and enduring record, not only in 
connection with the church and school which he so fondly 
loved, but as a public citizen as well. He was a man of 
great geniality in his daily life and one " whom the world 
did not willingly let die." 

Rev. Wm. C. Foote succeeded Mr. Rich as superin- 
tendent. 

The order of exercises at the fifth anniversary of the 
school held in the church on Sunday afternoon, January 
30, 1859, was as follows : 

Chant by the school. The Lord's Prayer. Prayer. 
Report of the superintendent, Wm. C. Foote. Singing, 
"Sabbath Morning." Address. Singing, "Joyful Ti- 
dings." Address. Singing, " Rest for the Weary." Prayer. 
Singing, " The New Jerusalem." Benediction. 

The superintendent in his report dates the anniversary 
of this school from the time it entered into the basement 
of this church in 1854, instead of the date of its organiza- 
tion, in September, 1852. 

Extracts from Superintendent Foote 's report, May, 1862: 

"The past year has been one of progress in many 
respects, and also one of privilege. It surely is a great 
privilege to have the treasure of God's truth so richly be- 
stowed upon us. We have had the opportunity of study- 
ing its counsels ' with none to molest or make us afraid.' 
It has not been so in all parts of our land. Large sections, 
even whole States, have been devastated by the destruct- 
ive scourge of war. Families and communities have been 

burning the lowest, praying that its oil may not fail. He was a comfort 
and a blessing to the churches with which he was connected. 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 233 

driven out from their homes and made wanderers. Deso- 
lation such as we can hardly understand has swept over 
them. Even the sanctuaries of God have been destroyed 
or turned to other uses than the sacred purposes for which 
they were designed. 

" We would remember here especially one of our older 
scholars, Charles W. Foster, who always loved to be with 
us, and though coming up to manhood did not forsake the 
privileges of the Sabbath-school. He gratefully remem- 
bers them still, and though now deprived of them and in 
the midst of temptations, he records his testimony in behalf 
of the blessed truth he here studied. He heard his coun- 
try's call and nobly responded to its summons, and is now 
with that mighty host, we trust heaven called and heaven 
defended, which shall soon restore union and peace to our 
now distracted and bleeding country. We shall gladly 
welcome his return to enjoy with us the blessings of an 
established government."* 

The secretary's report of this year is as follows : 
" Whole number of teachers on record, 28 ; average attend- 
ance of scholars, 160; average attendance of teachers, 20; 
whole number of Scripture verses learned as reported, 
37,168 ; largest number of scholars in attendance, 198 ; larg- 
est number of teachers in attendance, 28 ; smallest number 
of scholars, 97 ; smallest number of teachers, 15." 

Jesse H. Tyler served as secretary of this school for a 
number of years. He also took the place of both the 
superintendent and his assistant during the temporary 

* The brave boys who went out from this school to engage in the 
defence of our country in the time of its peril in the late war of the rebel- 
lion were : Victor M. Macfarlane ; Stephen H. Struthers, the assistant sec- 
retary, who returned after a brief absence ; George S. Rockwell, son of 
Samuel D. Rockwell, who was killed at the battle of Stone River, Mur- 
freesborough, Tenn., in 1863; Edward Tyler, son of Jesse H. Tyler, and 
George Cable, also killed in that war, as well as Charles W. Foster, whose 
remains were brought home and interred in the family plot in St. John's 
Cemetery. This school honors the memory of these young patriots, these 
departed heroes. The service they once rendered can never be forgotten. 
Indebtedness such as is owed them can never be cancelled. The sacrifice 
of their lives for the nation's honor and the preservation of the Union can 
never be overrated, for the work they accomplished was for coming gener- 
ations. 



234 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

absence of those officials. All of these offices he filled with 
great acceptance. He was greatly beloved for his " St. 
John-like spirit," which endeared him to all warm-hearted 
Christians. His pastor, Rev. Dr. Smith, in his mention of 
the officers and their work in connection with this church 
said, " It was my pleasant privilege to know him when a 
student for the ministry. By his lamentable death the 
church lost an amiable, judicious, and faithful officer, whose 
name it loves to honor among the worthies of its commu- 
nion." 

Mr. Tyler was suddenly summoned from his earthly 
work on March 10, 1863, to enter upon some higher service 
and grander work in the " city which is above." " And 
there shall be no more curse : but the throne of God and of 
the Lamb shall be in it ; and his servants shall serve 
him." Rev. 22 : 3. 

The secretary's report for May, 1864, showed: whole 
number of scholars on record, 209 ; whole number of teach- 
ers, 32 ; average attendance of scholars, 187 ; average attend- 
ance of teachers, 28 ; whole number of verses learned, 54,- 
307 ; largest number of scholars in attendance, 196; largest 
number of teachers in attendance, 30 ; smallest number of 
scholars, 109 ; smallest number of teachers, 15. 

The officers of this school in May, 1 864, were : Wm. C. 
Foote, Superintendent ; Edgar Strang, Secretary ; Stephen 
R. Struthers, Assistant Secretary ; Lemuel Wells, Libra- 
rian; Stephen H. Thayer, Jr., and Julius T. Rockwell, 
Assistant Librarians. 

The tenth anniversary of the school was held in the 
church on Sunday afternoon, May 14, 1864, at three o'clock. 

The order of exercises was as follows : Singing, " The 
Children's Army Song." Prayer by the pastor, Rev. D. M. 
Seward, D. D. Reports of the superintendent and secre- 
tary. Singing, " Open Wide the Golden Gate." Address 
by Ralph Wells, Esq. Singing, " Beautiful Zion." Address 
by the pastor. Singing, " The True Succession." 

During Mr. Foote's superintendency special attention 
was given by the teachers to the memorizing of Scripture 
texts. They were aided in this essential part of Sunday- 
school instruction by the earnest and hearty cooperation of 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 235 

not only the superintendent, but the parents of the chil- 
dren as well, and it is worthy of record that the committal 
of the Bible was not made with the expectation of reward. 

The school contributed $200 annually towards the sup^ 
port of a missionary in the home field. 

The following extracts are taken from the school rec- 
ord book : 

" In April, 1864, the children contributed towards pur- 
chasing a new piano. 

" Sunday, May 15, 1864, Mr. Foote introduced the new 
superintendent, Stephen H. Thayer. 

"May 22, 1864. Rev. Mr. Rand, in behalf of the 
school, offered pleasant resolutions expressing their regrets 
at the loss of their old superintendent, W. C. Foote, thank- 
ing him for his valuable services. They were unanimously 
adopted, and on motion it was resolved that the proceed- 
ings should be recorded at length. Rev. Dr. Seward also 
expressed his great regret at the loss of the superintend- 
ent and bore testimony to his efficient and faithful services 
in the school. 

" After Mr. Foote's resignation he continued to teach 
in the school for several years." 

Rev. W. W. Rand was the leader of vocal and instru- 
mental music in this school for several years. 

Miss Margaret Morrison (now Mrs. Albert Putnam) 
had charge of the Primary Department, numbering sixty 
pupils, which met in a very pleasant room adjoining the 
Sunday-school in the basement of the church. The rec- 
ollections of the pupils of this class, now grown to woman- 
hood and manhood, of the time spent with their teacher, 
and her interesting "talks to them, are delightful. 

The secretary's book contains this entry under date of 
Sunday, May 22, 1864: "The new superintendent, Mr. 
Thayer, entered upon his duties and made his inaugural 
speech." 

During Mr. Thayer's superintendency special atten- 
tion was given and preparation made to have the monthly 
concerts held by the school pleasant and profitable. To 
this end interesting speakers were secured. 

Not a little of the success and prosperity of the school 



236 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

at that time were due to the energy and efficiency of the 
superintendent's family. His wife had charge of the infant 
class, which numbered sixty pupils, his daughter and his 
son Horace were teachers, and his son Stephen H. Thayer, 
Jr. (now Judge Thayer), was the librarian, and subse- 
quently became the secretary and treasurer for several 
years. His son-in-law, Rev. H. Kingsbury, was the leader 
of the singing. 

While Mr. Kingsbury was connected with the school 
he compiled, assisted by A. A. Graley, M. D., the Sunday- 
school music book entitled " Happy Voices," which was 
published by the American Tract Society and was very 
popular, having a large circulation. Many of the tunes 
and some of the hymns were composed by him. This 
singing book was introduced into the school in March, 
1865. 

It was also during Mr. Kingsbury's connection with 
the school that he prepared for the ministry, 

The school under this superintendent continued to 
retain its larger scholars. Among the teachers who had 
classes numbering from twelve to fifteen pupils were Mrs. 
Hanks, Mrs. Jesse Tyler, Miss Clara L. Okell, Miss C. M. 
Strang, Miss L. E. Seward (now the wife of Rev. W. H. 
Gleason, D. D.), Richard Wynkoop, Wm. C. Foote, E. B. 
Schoonmaker, and Charles Lockwood, the latter having 
taught classes of boys and girls. The members of his last 
class of 1 871 were Miss Josephine Sawyer, Miss Eldora 
Davis (now Mrs. Thomas W. Radford), Miss Isabella M. 
Shipman (now Mrs. John S. Karr), Miss Lucy Earl, Miss 
Sarah Clark, Miss Fannie W. Shipman (now Mrs. Samuel 
M. Wilson), Miss Mary E. Morris (now Mrs. John J. Litte- 
brandt), Miss Mary E. Littebrandt (now Mrs. A. D. Dor- 
ward), Miss Carlese Simpson (now Mrs. William R. Mott), 
Miss Ella Coles, and Miss Rachel Archer (now Mrs. John 
F. Thompson), all of whom, with one exception, became 
communicants of the church under his instruction. 

This class met in the square pew in the southwest cor- 
ner of the church, there being no room for them in the 
Sunday-school room. Between this teacher and his class 
there existed a real affection, for he manifested almost 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 237 

a parental anxiety for their proficiency and welfare, and 
his faithful and practical instructions are recalled with ap- 
preciation. Said one of his pupils : " I remember Mr. 
Lockwood's teaching in this one particular. After we be- 
came members of the church he constantly talked to us of 
the responsibilities we had assumed and what was required 
of us. He used to give and loan us books which were help- 
ful to us in our Christian life. His ideas of questionable 
amusements were clear and decided, and he endeavored to 
teach us that there was no room for the church and the 
world to travel side by side. Some of us used sometimes 
to think him almost too strict on this point, but now that I 
have myself a family of boys and girls to train I fully real- 
ize the value of his instructions." 

The following are extracts from the secretary's record 
book : 

"May, 1866. — The Scripture lesson was omitted to-day 
and the time was occupied by prayer for God's blessing on 
the school, and in earnest and pointed appeals to the chil- 
dren, urging immediate attention to their eternal interests. 
Remarks were made by Messrs. C. Lockwood, William C. 
Foote, Mr. Littlebrant, Rev. Dr. Rand, and Dr. Seward. 
Fervent prayers were offered by them. 

" May 1866. — Communion Sunday. Miss C. L. Okell, a 
teacher, Margaret and Jennie Burns and E. P. Baird united 
with the church from the Sunday-school." 

The Christmas festival of 1866 was held on Friday 
evening at 7 : 30 oclock in the Sunday-school room. The 
exercises were opened by prayer by the pastor, Rev. 
Dr. Seward, which was followed by a song written by one 
of the teachers and arranged to the air of " Tramp, tramp, 
tramp," by Mr. H. Kingsbury. Addresses were made by 
William A. Gibson, Dr. Seward, and by the superintendent, 
who delivered a rhyming address which greatly delighted 
the children. 

The Christmas Carol "With Joy the Angels Sing," 
followed. Then the infant class, under the direction of 
Mrs. S. H. Thayer, recited in correct concert the 121st 
Psalm. The religious exercises closed with an original 
song written for the occasion by the Superintendent, Ste- 



238 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

phen H. Thayer, the air of which was sent from Rome, 
Italy, by the composer, Mr. H. Kingsbury, who wrote it for 
this festival, and which was, by request, repeated at a sub- 
sequent Christmas festival. 

The exercises were more than usually pleasant. The 
musical part was conducted by the new organist, Mr. 
Brown, who led the singing, and Miss Helen Foote, who 
presided at the piano. The distribution of gifts by the 
dear good saint, Santa Claus, ended the festivities of the 
joyous and memorial festival. 

October 4, 1868. Rev. Dr. Rand read an interesting 
and appreciative letter from a Sunday-school in Virginia, 
acknowledging the gift of a library from class No. 15. 

This class was taught by E. Y. Bell, and the boys that 
contributed this gift were : George E. Upham, William C. 
Thayer, Frederick Shears, Chauncey Gouch, Bradford Otis, 
G. B. Calem, I. Harriott, Edward Hill, Frank Simpson, and 
Charles Tyler. 

Rev. Dr. Seward manifested a very deep interest in 
the work of the Sunday-school, rarely failing to be present 
at its sessions either at the opening or closing exercises. 
He was also always present, if not unavoidably detained, 
at the monthly concert, taking part in the exercises. He 
was the faithful loving shepherd of the children of this 
fold for eighteen years, resigning his charge June 20, 
1870. 

Rev. T. Ralston Smith, D. D., in his historical dis- 
course of this church makes mention of Dr. Seward's min- 
isterial labors in connection with the church as follows : 

" In thus noting the brief statistics which I have been 
enabled to gather from the records of Dr. Seward's minis- 
try, I am deeply sensible of the fact that they exhibit very 
imperfectly, as all such statistics must, the fidelity of a 
Christian pastor and the subtle influences which secure 
him a deep place in the affections of his people. I knew 
Dr. Seward for years as his co-presbyter, and readily 
learned to respect him for his personal worth and his min- 
isterial ability and devotion. But to you, amidst whom he 
labored so long as a teacher, a helper in trial, a sympa- 
thizing and tender friend in seasons of afflictions, a par- 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 239 

taker in your joys, a supporter of the aged and weary, a 
kind and gentle guide of the young — to you his best testi- 
mony is written on your hearts, or laid away with those 
sacred feelings and associations of the past with which a 
a stranger cannot intermeddle. I have no fear that his 
work will be forgotten. And yet that work can never fully 
be known until its ripe and perfect fruit is displayed in the 
church triumphant above." 

J. Fowler Travis succeeded Mr. Thayer as superin- 
tendent in 1868, and was followed in turn by William A. 
Gibson, John W. Skinner, and E. Y. Bell. The latter 
writes, under date of October 3, 1887, concerning the school 
under his superintendency and that of William A. Gibson : 

" I wish I could give you the required information of 
the time I served as superintendent, treasurer, and secre- 
tary of the school. William A. Gibson was my immediate 
predecessor as superintendent. I distinctly remember that 
during my administration the school was in a most flour- 
ishing condition, that during the years Mr. Gibson and 
myself were at the head, our missionary contributions were 
large and no doubt the largest of any school of that time 
in Yonkers. The number of teachers in active service 
each Sunday under my term of superintendency, was up- 
wards of thirty, and I remember how often the teachers 
met together in social and Christian intercourse at my 
home. These social meetings contributed largely to the 
school's unity of work and the building up of the church. 
During Mr. Gibson's and my terms of office, the member- 
ship of the church received an increased accession from 
the Sunday-school. 

" Looking back from over twelve to fifteen years, I can- 
not recall all the beloved teachers and assistants who gen- 
erously helped me in the blessed work, yet I remember 
their manly and womanly devotion to the cause. My dear 
old and valued friend Mott, who faithfully labored with 
me, I have very pleasant recollections of. 

" My connection with the First Presbyterian Sunday- 
school dates back to my fifteenth year and ended when I 
left Yonkers in 1874. 

" I am glad you are engaged in the work you outline. I 



240 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

have delightful recollections of my early and later connec- 
tion with the Sunday-school interests of Yonkers. 

" I am yours very truly, E. Y. Bell." 

G. Livingstone Morse was elected superintendent of 
the school April, 1874, and served two years. After his 
resignation he served as assistant-superintendent to the 
pastor, Rev. T. Ralston Smith, D. D., and also had charge 
of the infant class for several months. The building fund 
towards the erection of the new chapel was started at his 
suggestion, the Sunday-school contributing $10 as a nest- 
egg for this new enterprise. Mr. Morse also suggested the 
dividing of the Christmas exercises into two gatherings — 
the religious exercises to be held on Sunday of Christmas 
week, and the presents to be given upon a week day pre- 
ceding the Sabbath, or immediately following Christmas 
day. This pleasant custom has been retained as a distinct 
feature of the school to this time. 

A very pleasant Christmas festival was held on Sun- 
day afternoon in 1875 in the church, when the above men- 
tioned order of exercises was first observed. After the 
singing of Christmas carols and Scripture recitations, A. D. 
F. Randolph, after a few introductory remarks appropriate 
to the occasion, closed his pleasant talk with a poem writ- 
ten for that festival entitled, " The Night Swept Cool o'er 
Bethlehem's Plain." 

The secretary's report for June, 1875, shows: Number 
of officers, 4 ; number of teachers, 26 ; number of pupils, 
108 ; number of pupils in infant class, 30 ; total, 168. 

The following is from a printed report of the Sunday- 
school in the centennial year, February, 1876: Officers, 5 ; 
teachers, 29; scholars on register, 160; average attendance, 
131; largest attendance, 200 ; number in infant class, 30 ; 
conversions, 7; volumes in library, 450; receipts, $464 15 ; 
expenditure for general expenses of school and Christmas 
festival, $365 02 ; donations for missionary purposes, 
$262 50. 

The officers of this school are : G. Livingstone Morse, 
Superintendent ; W. W. Law, Assistant-Superintendent ; 
W. R. Mott, Secretary and Treasurer; J. E. Andrus, Li- 
brarian ; J. Eddy, Musical Director. 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 24I 

The teachers are : Miss Kate Willard, Miss Jennie 
Skinner, Miss Anna Shipman, Miss Marietta Flagg, Miss 
Julia F. Randolph, Miss Annie McCullough, Miss Annie 
Kellogg, Miss C. M. Strang, Miss M. J. Miller, Miss Hattie 
Smith, Miss Kate, Nichols, Miss Lucy Olmsted, Miss E. 
F. Randolph, Miss Ada M. Daughaday, Miss Isabel Ship- 
man, Miss Emily Rice, Miss Bain, Mrs. T. R. Smith, Mrs. 
F. P. Brown, Messrs. W. B. Strang, J. W. Rockwell, J. W. 
Skinner, S. P. Holmes, W. C. Foote, H. H. Thayer, Allen 
Taylor, William Worden, Salter S. Clark, Augustus Cruik- 
shank, E. Y. Bell, Dr. G. Balch, and Mrs. G. Balch. 

The pastor of the church, Rev. T. Ralston Smith, D. D., 
assumed the charge of the school as its superintendent, 
April 30, 1876, and served until March 30, 1879. During 
his superintendency there were several large accessions 
from the Sunday-school to the communion of the church. 

The following entries are taken from the school record 
book : 

February 1878. — Report of the secretary of the school 
to the county secretary : Whole number of officers and 
teachers, 29 ; whole number of pupils, 199 ; infant class, 20 ; 
amount contributed, $220. 

March 30, 1879. — Rev. Dr. T. Ralston Smith, superin- 
tendent and pastor, took leave of the school in a farewell 
address, having accepted a call to the Westminster Presby- 
terian Church in Buffalo, N. Y. There was a unanimous 
expression of regret on the part of the teachers and 
scholars at his departure. 

The following resolution was offered by John W. 
Skinner on behalf of the school, as expressive of their 
great regret at his departure and of their appreciation of 
his services while with them : 

Resolved, That the teachers of the First Presbyterian 
Sunday-school learn with great regret of the departure of 
Rev. Dr. Smith on this the last Sabbath on which they 
are to enjoy his services as superintendent. They desire 
but cannot fully express the sense of the great loss they 
suffer by his removal. They know that in performing the 
office of both pastor and superintendent he assumed in the 
latter a great additional burden. They cannot take leave 

Sunday-school Work. j ^ 



242 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

of the superintendent who has so faithfully performed his 
duties at great personal sacrifice, without expressing the 
obligation they are under for the oversight and care he 
has given to all the departments of the school, and for the 
interest he has inspired in the study of the word of God 
and in the spiritual application of its truths. The teachers 
also wish to assure him of their love and attachment, and 
that their prayers shall attend him in his new field of 
labor. 

Rev. Dr. Smith, in his historical discourse delivered 
Sunday morning July 2, 1876, makes mention of the Sun- 
day-school as follows : 

" And our Sabbath-school work, though limited in its 
scope, has been invested with a very high degree of inter- 
est. I think it would be difficult to find a more devoted 
and capable band of teachers. Nor do I believe that you 
could anywhere discover a more attractive assemblage of 
children and young people. I desire here to give ample 
recognition to the valuable services of those who have held 
the office of superintendent, secretary, and librarian, and of 
all who have here given themselves to the task of Christian 
instruction. Their labors, past and present, are bearing 
rich fruit. And this portion of our work demands and 
deserves more abundant support. I must here express 
my great regret that the impossibility of obtaining thus 
far the complete records of the school prevents me from 
naming those by whose labors it has successively been sus- 
tained." 

April 6. — Prof. Baird, vice-superintendent, absent from 
illness. Wm. R. Mott, secretary, absent on account of the 
death of his mother. J. W. Skinner, acting superintendent. 
Mr. Ketcham as secretary. 

April 13. — Prof. Baird acting superintendent. Election 
for superintendent. Edward W. Dwight elected. 

Pastor's report to the Westchester Presbytery for 1880 : 
Officers and teachers, 29 ; adult scholars, 36 ; youth and 
children, no; total membership, 175; average attendance, 
118; number united with the church, 9. 

January, 1880. — A communication received from Miss 
A. E. Kirkwood, the County Secretary of Sunday-school 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 243 

Work and Temperance Literature, referred to trie superin- 
tendent, Edward W. D wight. 

February 29. — The committee on temperance lessons 
recommend that the temperance lesson be adopted, and to 
be selected by the school. Vote taken. Adopted. The 
committee also recommend that the lesson be taught four 
times a year, at the end of each quarter. Adopted. 

The new chapel being completed, the school entered it 
on Sunday, October 14, 1880. The following were the offi- 
cers of the school at that date : Horace H. Thayer, Superin- 
tendent ; Howard R. Butler, Assistant Superintendent ; 
William R. Mott, Secretary and Treasurer ; Charles H. 
Butler, Librarian. 

April 188 1. —The pastor, Rev. Mr. Reid, began a course 
of sermons to children, which were delivered monthly at the 
morning service in the church. The members of the Sun- 
day-school and the children of the church occupied the body 
of the church on those instructive and interesting occasions. 

April 17, 1 88 1. — Teachers' meeting held after session. 
Mr. Charles Collins unanimously chosen Superintendent. 
Mr. Jasper Van Vleck elected Assistant Superintendent ; 
Wm. R. Mott, Secretary and Treasurer ; Walter Graves, Li- 
brarian ; J. Van Vleck and Carey T. Seaman, assistants. 

May 1. — Mr. Charles Collins took charge of the school 
as superintendent. Number of officers present, 4 ; number 
of teachers, 20 ; number of pupils, 142 ; number of pupils in 
the infant class, 20. 

Mr. Collins writes as follows : 

" Yonkers, September 23, 1887. 

" My Dear Miss Kirkwood : In reply to your ques- 
tions in reference to my connection with the Sunday-school 
I would say, I was chosen superintendent in the spring of 
1 88 1, and resigned in the fall of 1883. 

" Soon after I became superintendent Mrs. F. P. Brown 
was made lady superintendent of the school and Mr. Jessup 
assistant superintendent. 

" For the new life and interest which came into the 
school at that time we were largely indebted to the large 
and admirably arranged rooms for the Sunday-school and 



244 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

infant class provided in the chapel recently erected. And 
for this addition to our church building, with its convenient 
Sunday-school appointments, we are indebted to the liber- 
ality, good judgment, and persuasive talent of William 
Allen Butler, Jr. 

" Our people always entered heartily into our Christ- 
mas services and festivals, and were most liberal contributors 
on these occasions. During my term many things were 
done by the people to make the Sunday-school work pleas- 
ant and profitable. ' 

"I have given you a few facts and figures, thinking 
they may aid you in looking for more important matter. 
" Respectfully yours, 

"CHARLES COLLINS." 

The Christmas exercises of 1882 were held in the 
church on Sunday afternoon, December 25. Interesting 
addresses were delivered by Rev. John Reid and the super- 
intendent, Charles Collins. 

The following is a brief report of the superintendent's 
address on that occasion. 

After appropriate and interesting remarks concerning 
the origin and history of Christmas day he spoke of the 
manner of its observance in different countries. He said : 

" In later generations the Germans led off with the 
grotesque and noisy manner of spending the day. The 
English gave to it more of a domestic religious merry- 
making festival. 

" ' 'T was Christmas broached the mightiest ale, 
'T was Christmas told the merriest tale, 
A Christmas gambol oft would cheer 
A poor man's heart through half the year.'" 

Mr. Collins closed his address by a few remarks on the 
origin and history of Sunday-schools. He said : 

" I have recently received an interesting letter from 
one who signs himself 'your missionary, Mr. John Cassell, 7 
and to whose support this Sunday-school has been contribu- 
ting for over twenty years. Mr. Cassell is doing Sunday- 
school work down in the Indian Territory among the In- 
dians and poor whites." 

Incident to Mr. Collins' superintendency was his prep- 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 245 

aration and publication for the school of the little book 
entitled " Precept and Praise," which was published by 
A. S. Barnes & Co., New York, in 1881. This little vol- 
ume contains the psalter, the litany, the beatitudes, the 
commandments, and questions from the " Shorter Cate- 
chism," " that matchless compendium of Biblical theology 
of the Westminster divines," and other useful and import- 
ant matter, helpful not only to scholars but to teachers and 
superintendents as well. 

He also gave special attention to the singing and to the 
primary department of the school. John Bright and his 
son, the cornetists, had charge of the singing. Mr. Collins 
generously contributed $600 towards the expenses of the 
Sunday-school, which was not all the expense incurred by 
the school during his superintendency. For the primary de- 
partment were provided the helps necessary for the success- 
ful carrying forward of this important branch of Sunday- 
school work. 

This department at that time was superintended by 
Miss Armenia P. Baird, who had charge of it for more than 
three years. Her devotion to her little charge was earnest 
and untiring. While " busy here and there " about her 
work, the Master came one day and laid His hand on her, 
bidding her to service in the upper sanctuary. In loving 
remembrance of her and her work, the teachers of the 
Sunday-school placed in the primary class room a beautiful 
memorial window of cathedral glass, the design of which is 
a cross, and around it is a vine gracefully entwined. At 
the base of it is a scroll bearing this inscription : " Armenia 
Palmer Baird. Obit. May 23, 1884. Feed my Lambs." But 
those who knew her need no such memorial to perpetuate 
her name, which is held in affectionate remembrance. 
The remark is still frequently heard, " She loved the chil- 
dren and they loved her." In one of the " Last Poems " by 
H. H. are a few words which beautifully express these 
thoughts : 

"And when, remembering me, you come some day 
And stand there, speak no praise, but only say, 
' How she loved us ! It was for that she was so dear.' 
These are the only words that I shall smile to hear : 
1 How she loved us !' " 



246 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The subjoined letter gives a brief resume of the work 
accomplished by Mr. Cassell, to whom Mr. Collins referred, 
also of the other missionaries during the time they were 
supported by the school : 

"New York, May 31, 1888. 

" Miss A. E. Kirkwood. 

" Dear Friend : Replying to your note of 28th inst., I 
am pleased to report the former good deeds of the First 
Presbyterian Sunday-school, Yonkers. In 1861 about one- 
third of the salary of one of our missionaries was assumed 
and paid up to 1885 as follows : 

" First seven years, F. F. Wheeler, Nebraska, 151 new 
schools, 688 teachers and 4,375 scholars. First two years, 
Rev. E. W. Rice, Wisconsin, yj new schools, 540 teachers 
and 4,174 scholars. First two years, Rev. N. P. Paxson, 
Missouri, 71 new schools, 451 teachers and 3,061 scholars. 
First thirteen years, Rev. John Cassell, Kansas, 518 new 
schools, 1,548 teachers and 17,807 scholars. Totals — 24 
years, 817 new schools and 29,417 scholars. 

" Total miles travelled, 1 15,486 ; addresses given, 3,195 ; 
Bibles and Testaments distributed, 5,073 ; families visited, 
8,695. Aid was given to schools having a membership of 
over 102,000, to whom the missionary has given an earnest 
invitation to drink of the water of life freely. The num- 
ber of souls savingly interested is known only to the dear 
Lord who saved them. Neither can we give the number 
of churches grown out of this Work. It certainly is among 
the hundreds. These missionaries have made grants of 
religious literature to the value of nearly $5,000. 

" The above text with statistics will furnish material 
for quite a respectable sermon. Shall be glad to furnish 
anything further if desired. 

" Cordially yours, 

"L. MILTON MARSH, District Secretary." 

RECORD BOOK. 

" April 8, 1883. — The superintendent absent, Mr. Jessup 
acting as superintendent. Election of officers after Sunday- 
school. Charles Collins unanimously reelected as Superin- 
tendent ; C. N. Jessup, Vice-Superintendent ; Mrs. F. P. 
Brown, Lady Superintendent ; W. R. Mott, Secretary and 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 247 

Treasurer ; Wells Olmsted and George Flagg, Librarians ; 
and Walter Graves, Committee on Audit. 

" September 2. — The school resumed its sessions after 
vacation. Mr. Charles Collins, owing to advice of his phy- 
sician, offered his resignation, to take effect immediately. 
Mr. Jessup also offered his resignation, to take effect Octo- 
ber 1. 

"Report of school for September, 1883: Officers, 6; 
teachers, 20; pupils, 162 ; pupils in infant class, 55. 

" September 9. — Mr. Theodore Gilman, Superintendent 
pro tern. 

"September 23. — Meeting of teachers after session. 
The committee report in favor of Mr. Walter Graves as Su- 
perintendent. On motion Mr. Graves was unanimously 
elected. 

" October 7. — Mr. Walter Graves took charge of the 
school." 

During Mr. Graves' superintendency of the school 
there was a large accession to the membership of the church 
from the Sunday-school. 

November 11. — The committee on Assistant Superin- 
tendent reported to the church session in favor of nomin- 
ating W. W. Ellsworth. This is the first record of a school 
officer being nominated on recommendation of the church 
session, in the history of this school. 

The pastor's report to the Westchester Presbytery of 
1885 shows: Officers, 5; teachers, 26; scholars, 256; total, 
officers, teachers, and scholars, 287 ; average attendance, 
172 ; received into the church from school, 3. Are teachers' 
meetings held? Yes. Amount given to our Board, $181 ; 
amount given to other benevolent objects, $125. Westmin- 
ster Lesson Helps are used. 560 books in the library. 

May 9, 1885. — Teachers' meeting held after church ser- 
vices. Mr. Theodore Gilman, chairman. W. W. Ellsworth 
elected Superintendent ; William Ketcham, Assistant Su- 
perintendent ; Mrs. F. P. Brown, Lady Superintendent ; 
William R. Mott, Secretary and. Treasurer ; Wells Olmsted, 
Librarian ; George Flagg and S. Hawley, Assistant Libra- 
rians. 

Sunday-school statistics when W. W. Ellsworth entered 



248 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

upon his duties : Officers present, 4 ; teachers present, 1 6 ; 
pupils in primary department, 54 ; total number of pupils, 
172. 

From the pastor's report to the Westchester Presbytery 
for 1886 we learn: Number of officers, 6; teachers, 27; 
scholars, 250 ; total, 283 ; average attendance, 172 ; attendance 
of scholars at church, 200 ; received into church from 
school, 2 ; books in library, 600 ; Westminster Catechism 
taught. Amount given to benevolent objects, $225. 

Pastor's report to the Presbytery 1887 : Number of 
scholars, 288; average attendance, 162; amount contribu- 
ted, $212 18; number of scholars received into the church 
from the Sunday-school, 7. 

The branch of the Ministering Children's League con- 
nected with this school was organized by Mrs. Fayette P. 
Brown, March 9, 1886, with the following officers: Mrs. F. 
P. Brown, President ; Miss Getler, Vice-President ; Master 
Victor M. Elting, Secretary ; Master Carl Collins, Treasu- 
rer , Miss M. Flagg, Miss Law, Miss K. Atkins, Miss Edna 
Morse, Master Ernest Bogart, and Master Henry Baird, 
Board of Managers. 

From the first annual report, presented by Miss Susie. 
Leeds Heermance, are taken the following extracts : 

" Meetings of the League were held during the first 
year usually on Saturday afternoon of each week. The 
first work undertaken by the League was the furnishing of 
one of Miss L. J. Kirkwood's admirably arranged sewing 
boxes, which was sent to Mrs. Moore's school at Myaska, 
Ockmulgee Station, Indian Territory. 

" A strawberry festival was given in June to the Sun- 
day-school of Immanuel Chapel by Miss Lemon's and Miss 
Janet Flagg's classes. 

"On October 5, Miss Randolph's class sent $5 to the 
relief fund for the Charleston sufferers. Ten dollars was 
contributed to start a fresh-air fund. 

" In December Christmas letters and cards were sent 
to St. John's Hospital, the county jail, and other places. 

" The Christmas-tree for the Immanuel Chapel Sunday- 
school was provided for by three boys' classes, viz: Miss 
Hattie Butler's, Mr. H. Thayer's, and Mr. Ketcham's. 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 249 

" Two of the girls' classes had charge of the Christmas 
department in the home missionary boxes, and the letters 
received show that their efforts were fully appreciated. 

" In January a box containing toys, books, dolls, etc., 
was sent to Wilson Mission, New York. A doll from this 
box was given to a little deformed girl who herself is a 
member of the Ministering Children's League in connec- 
tion with that mission. 

" Learning of a dearth of good reading among the poor 
and neglected children in the tenement districts of New 
York, the members of the League, through the Wilson Mis- 
sion, obtained the names and addresses of fifty such chil- 
dren, to whom they have sent regularly packages of pic- 
tures and Sunday-school papers. 

" A box of garments was sent to Mr. Moore in Indian 
Territory. The making of them was given to one of the 
classes in Immanuel Chapel Sunday-school, who were anx- 
ious to earn money to give towards the furnishing of the 
new chapel. 

" In January a box containing bedding, clothing, 
worsted slippers, dolls, scrap-books, toys, towels, rolls of 
strips of muslin for bandages, and many other articles 
necessary for hospital use, was sent to Oroomiah Hospital, 
Persia, which is under the care of Rev. M. Cochran, M. D., 
of the Presbyterian Board of Missions. One of the articles 
in the box was a pretty patchwork quilt from the members 
of the primary department. Ten dollars was given to 
Mrs. Balch to start a milk fund to supply poor sick children 
with good milk. 

" Fifteen dollars was given towards a box of clothing 
to be sent to Miss Allison's school at Santa Fe, New Mex- 
ico." 

The second annual reports of the Ministering Chil- 
dren's League of this Sunday-school were read at the close 
of the session of the school on Sunday morning, March 25, 
1888. The superintendent read the report of the secretary, 
Miss S. L. Heermance, and the report of the treasurer was 
read by Master Carl Collins. It was as follows : 

"The collections this year have amounted to $160 23. 
This added to the fund of missionary association of the 



250 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Sunday-school, $39 74, and the balance from last year's 
account, $2 86, gives us a credit of $202 83. The expendi- 
tures have amounted to $141 08, $61 81 of which has been 
devoted to local work, $39 87 to home work, and $39 40 to 
foreign work." 

In the last annual report of the parent society the work 
of the Yonkers branch is thus mentioned : " In the distri- 
bution of Sunday-school papers some of the members write 
to their little unknown friends, who live in crowded tene- 
ment houses and have very little to make life bright and 
happy. These letters give great delight to the tenement- 
house children, for whom perhaps the postman has never 
before opened his wonderful bag." 

From the third annual report, March, 1889, presented 
by Miss Elizabeth C. Thayer, Secretary, are taken the fol- 
lowing items, indicating the objects to which contributions 
were made : 

A box to Miss Bird, at Abeih, Syria. 

To Mrs. Granger, in New Mexico, was sent a well- 
filled Christmas box, and at another time a supply of col- 
lars, neckties, ribbons, etc., for her schoolgirls. Five dol- 
lars was sent to purchase a lamp for the church in New 
Mexico, $10 towards the salary of Miss Allison at Santa F6, 
New Mexico, $15 to the Ladies' ^Missionary Association, 
$15 to Mrs. Balch for home relief, Sunday-school papers to 
a school at Hampton Roads, Va. 

Gift to St. John's Hospital. 

Flowers to missions from May to October, $15 to The 
Pastor's Helpers in Immanuel Chapel. Toys and articles 
for Christmas boxes prepared by the Ladies' Missionary 
Association. 

Report of the Treasurer : 

The amount of the collections, the balance from last 
year's account, etc., is $206 59. 

The expenditures have amounted to $178 80. Of this 
amount $104 43 has been expended for local work, $71 87 
for home work, and $2 50 for foreign work. 

The balance for this year is $27 79. 

Carl Collins, Treasurer. 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 251 

Officers from March, 1888, to March, 1889: Miss Susie 
L. Heermance, President ; Miss Olmsted, Vice-President ; 
Miss Thayer, Secretary ; Carl Collins, Treasurer. 

On the retirement of Mrs. F. P. Brown as Lady Super- 
intendent of this school in the spring of 1887, she was pre- 
sented with three beautiful etchings by the members of 
the school, as a testimonial of regard and esteem. 

September, 1887, the Sunday-school collected $40 for 
the starving people of the famine district in Asia Minor, 
which was most gratefully received by them and paved the 
way for the more hearty reception of the gospel message 
which the missionaries were striving to preach. 

In March, 1888, Mr. Ellsworth energetically organized 
a Sunday-school paper mission, which thus far has been 
successfully carried out. The object of this new enter- 
prise was to supply destitute Sunday-schools with religious 
literature. Three schools in Hampton, Va., have been 
furnished regularly with papers contributed by the main 
school. 

Christmas of 1887 should be memorable if for no other 
reason than for the beauty of the day itself. It was a per- 
fect winter day of dazzling brightness, the air cold, crisp, 
and exhilarating. 

On Sunday afternoon the school with the Immanuel 
Chapel Sunday-school held union Christmas services in the 
church. The galleries and pulpit were tastefully fes- 
tooned with Christmas greens entwined with silver tinsel, 
which glistened in the gas light, producing a beautiful 
effect. 

The teachers and pupils of the two schools entered the 
church from the chapel doors on the north and south aisles 
of the church singing the processional hymn, " Welcome 
Tidings we are Bringing." Singing, responsive readings, 
and addresses by the pastor, Rev. John Reid, Rev. Dr. 
Strobridge, Rev. Mr. Penman, and W. W. Ellsworth, con- 
stituted the exercises of the occasion. 

The children of the home school met in the chapel of 
the church on Tuesday evening to receive their gifts. 
The exercises began by singing a Christmas carol. The 
pastor spoke of the superiority of Christmas day above 



252 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

other holidays, in that its joys and pleasures continued 
throughout the week. He was interrupted in his pleasant 
remarks by the clattering of footsteps, and St. Nicholas, 
who was admirably personated by one of the young men 
of the church, appeared. 

After the dismantling of the children's tree, the doors 
of the primary room were opened, disclosing a larger 
Christmas-tree resplendent in silver ornaments, made more 
brilliant by the calcium lights thrown upon them. Among 
the boughs were profusely distributed the lighter though 
not by any means all of the least valuable gifts, as many 
were written orders for coal, wood, and groceries. 

Beneath the bending branches of the tree, adding to 
its wealth, were boxes, bundles, and baskets, all filled with 
a generous and almost indescribable variety of gifts, things 
to eat and things to wear, books to read and toys to play 
with, vases, cups, and cushions, many things which some 
were done with but very good for others to begin with. 

As the doors rolled open and the lights of different 
colors were successively thrown upon the tree, there was a 
burst of admiration from the children. After giving a few 
moments for this spontaneous expression of surprise and 
delight, the superintendent led off in the doxology, " Praise 
God from whom all blessings flow," following which he 
asked for some Scripture verses on " giving," repeating 
first his own : " Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of 
these my brethren ye have done it unto me." 

A teacher followed with the verse : " To do good and 
to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is 
well pleased." 

With these exercises closed the festival occasion. 
The gifts on the tree were contributed by the children of 
the school, representing about $100, and were distributed 
among sixty-six poor families in the city, by a committee 
appointed by the Sunday-school, during holiday week. 

The strawberry festivals held by the school were occa- 
sions of great enjoyment, cultivating a kindly feeling 
among its teachers and friends. 

Easter Sunday was observed April i, 1888, by a union 
service of the home and chapel schools held in the church. 






FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 253 

An elaborate and well arranged programme, consisting of 
singing and responsive reading by the school, was suc- 
cessfully carried out, and interesting addresses were made 
by Rev. John Reid and Charles R. Lemngwell. 

Attention was given by Superintendent Ellsworth to 
the selection of Sunday-school helps, which are approved 
and extensively used by Sunday-school workers, and in 
directing the attention of the teachers to the publications 
which had special reference to their work. 

On Sunday, June 24, 1888, the Sunday-school closed 
for the summer, to be reopened the first Sunday in Sep- 
tember. 

The assistant superintendent, George H. Chamberlin, 
took charge of the exercises. Ten minutes were devoted 
to class review of the lessons of the last quarter, after which 
the golden texts for the quarter were recited in concert by 
the school. 

Mr. Chamberlin spoke on the duty of watchfulness, 
saying, " Many have learned this lesson well except in the 
line of religious thought." He urged the necessity of con- 
stant watchfulness against sin and temptation, also watch- 
ing for the Lord to come. This duty was often forgotten 
by many Christians. The Lord will come again to reign 
on the earth. He will come to judge the earth in right- 
eousness. Only by this vigilant watchfulness can we be- 
come little rays of light in the world. 

Horace H. Thayer spoke briefly on the subject of the 
lessons for the quarter, which he said could be summed up 
under three general heads — Christ's life and teachings, 
death, resurrection and the great commission. 

George D. Mackay spoke on the great commission, " Go 
ye into all the world," etc. 

He said we could get but little idea of the work of 
foreign missions simply by statistics showing that India 
to-day had 4,200 missionaries and Africa 10,800; this in- 
cluded the native missionaries and helpers. 

He gave a graphic and interesting account of the 
gospel in the little island of New Zealand. In the year 
1 8 14 three missionaries went there. The inhabitants, of 
the island had devil worship and sacrificed their children 



254 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

to their idols. This was not much like the religion of the 
meek and lowly Jesus. In the year 1840 the Gospel of 
Jesus had spread and permeated the whole community, 
and three of the chiefs of the tribes had been converted, 
and during the same year a great distribution of Christian 
literature occurred. There were distributed 5,000 Bible 
lesson slips, 6,900 catechisms, and 15,000 testaments. 

To-day, (1888), nine-tenths of the population are nom- 
inal Christians and the number of children gathered in the 
Sunday-school is 12,000. Recently a grand missionary 
meeting had been held at which sixteen native preachers 
made addresses. Thus in fifty years this island had been 
changed from barbarism to Christianity. 

In conclusion Mr. Mackay spoke of the great joy of 
being used as instruments in converting the world to the 
blessed religion of the Lord Jesus, and of the necessity of 
continuing in the good work of giving the gospel to the 
world. The school closed by singing, " The Light of the 
world is Jesus." 

A unique service was held on Sunday morning, June 9, 
1889, in the First Presbyterian Church, in which the chil- 
dren of the home and mission schools took a leading part 
in scripture recitations and songs. 

A pleasant feature of the service was the reading and 
presentation by Rev. Dr. Reid, of the resolutions passed by 
the teachers and scholars of the home school, in grateful 
recognition of the fidelity and devotion which ever charac- 
terized the administration of the retiring superintendent, 
William W. Ellsworth. 

The newly elected superintendents of both home and 
mission schools, George H. Chamberlin and Wells Olm- 
sted, were formally installed in accordance with a new 
ritual recommended by Sunday-school workers and ap- 
proved by the Presbyterian Church, and were warmly wel- 
comed by the pastor and teachers with assurances of faith- 
ful support. 

The pastor's address to the children was appropriate 
to the occasion, on the making of vows and the paying of 
them, bearing the stamp of the doctor's felicitous manner. 
The singing was spiritedly led by Rev. J. H. de Vries, 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 255 

pastor of Immanuel Chapel, the children entering- in with 
enthusiasm and delight as became the occasion. 

The teachers connected with the First Presbyterian 
Church Sunday-school, by invitation of their superin- 
tendent, George A. Chamberlin, gathered in Rev. Mr. 
de Vries' study in the church Friday evening, November 1 , 
1889, at seven o'clock, to their first tea meeting. These 
meetings are to be held quarterly, and are planned similar 
to the teacher's meetings of the Sunday-school of Rev. Dr. 
Alexander McLaren's church, England. They are in- 
tended only for the officers and teachers of the school with 
the exception of the pastor, Rev. Dr. Reid, and Mrs. Reid, 
who were especially invited. Topics relating to the con- 
duct of the school and of Sunday-school work in general 
are discussed at the table. 

Ralph E. Prime read a paper at the table noting some 
errors in Sunday-school teaching. Theodore Gilman gave 
some helpful suggestions as to the conduct of the benevo- 
lent work of the school according to the plan of the King's 
Sons and King's Daughters, which with modifications, had 
been recently adopted by the school. Rev. Dr. Reid, his 
assistant, Rev. J. H. de Vries, and Theodore Gilman gave 
their views in relation to catechetical instruction in the 
Sunday-school, which elicited an interesting and spirited 
discussion among the teachers. After the bountiful and 
appetizing but simple meal, which had been provided by 
the teachers and tastefully spread by the committee, Mrs. 
E. B. Fancher, Miss Julia Baird, Miss Mary Warner, and 
the Misses Heermance — the meeting closed with singing 
the doxology and the benediction by the pastor. There 
were twenty-eight persons present. 

These meetings, which have been inaugurated by 
Superintendent G. A. Chamberlin, promise to be a helpful 
auxiliary to the future work of this Sunday-school. 

The primary department of the school is held in a 
room adjoining the main room, and is attractively and con- 
veniently furnished. This department numbered (1889) 
fifty pupils— at this writing, April 1891, forty. The inter- 
national lessons are taught, illustrated by blackboard exer- 
cises and " Bible Lesson Pictures." 



256 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The commandments, the apostles' creed, and the 
" Child's Short Catechism," are also taught, the latter the 
first Sunday in the month in connection with the regular 
lesson. The paper entitled " Our Little Ones" is given, 
with Scripture picture cards, for punctuality and de- 
portment. 

The principles of systematic and cheerful giving are 
taught according to Scripture precepts, and the children 
are encouraged to earn their money and " not to offer the 
Lord that which costs them nothing." 

In 1889 the following change was made in collecting 
the contributions of the class. The teachers prepared 
numbered envelopes which were distributed monthly to 
the children, each child being known on the roll by a cor- 
responding number on the envelope. This contains the 
collection money and is placed in a small basket as the 
child enters the room. This plan obviates the necessity of 
the ancient custom of calling the roll, which tends to dis- 
order, and the time thus occupied is used to better advan- 
tage and at the close of the session the roll is marked from 
the collected envelopes. This system has doubled the 
amount of their collections. 

A monthly contribution of the class is given to Im- 
manuel Chapel mission fund. The children of the depart- 
ment, from March, 1888, to this date, August, 1 891, have 
sent upwards of 3,000 of their Sunday-school papers — to 
Jemisontown, Old Town, Salamanca, and Elko, mission 
stations among the Senacas in the Indian mission, western 
New York — mailing at their own expense. 

The former superintendents of the primary depart- 
ment have been : Miss Margaret Morrison, Mrs. S. H. 
Thayer, J. W. Skinner, G. Livingstone Morse, Miss Ar- 
menia Baird, Miss Carlese Simpson, and Mrs. John C. 
Havemeyer. The present Superintendent is Miss Irene 
Hine, who has had charge of it since November 6, 1884. 
She has been assisted in this department since April, 1887, 
by Miss Agnes E. Kirkwood, who resigned, June, 1891. 

On Sunday afternoon, December 22, 1889, the school 
and the Immanuel Chapel Sunday-school, held union 
Christmas services in the church. The exercises were con- 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 257 

ducted by the Superintendent, G. A. Chamberlin, and con- 
sisted of responsive Scripture reading and the singing of 
carols. 

Addresses were made by the pastor Rev. Dr. Reid, 
and Superintendent Chamberlin. " The Bethlehem Shep- 
herd Boy's Song " was beautifully and effectively recited 
in concert by five little girls, Edith Reid, Hattie Waring, 
Bessie Johnson, Mabel Canning, and Frederica Cham- 
berlin — the school singing the refrain, 

"Glory to God in the highest, 
And peace, good-will toward men." 

On Friday evening, December 27, the children of the 
home school met in the chapel of the church to receive 
their gifts. The programme was announced by the Super- 
intendent, G. A. Chamberlin. 

The exercises opened with a carol by the children, 
after which Prof. Lesher, of New York, played on the 
zither. Elsie Gilman recited " Hang up the Baby's Stock- 
ing," which pleased the children very much. A series of 
stereopticon views was displayed by George D. Mackay, 
beginning with some humorous pictures. " The Night 
Before Christmas " was very effectively rendered by Mrs. 
J. Lindsay Porteous, and illustrated by means of the stere- 
opticon. The recitation by Hattie Bronson, " The Night 
After Christmas," was very pleasing. 

Pretty Japanese baskets filled with mottoes and choice 
confectionery were distributed to all the scholars. Horace 
H. Thayer and Rev. J. Hendrik de Vries were recipients 
of presents from their classes. 

A feature of the entertainments of this school for sev- 
eral years past has been the bringing of gifts by the chil- 
dren, to be distributed among the poor. A large table was 
filled with groceries, toys, books, etc., and orders were re- 
ceived for coal and flour. Besides these there was $15 in 
money. 

The pastor's report to the Presbytery, April 1891, was 
as follows : Number of officers and teachers, 34 ; number 
of scholars, 243 ; average attendance 163 ; number united 
with the church in March, 1 3 ; contributions $450 ; number 
of books in library, 607. A Young People's Christian En- 

t-unday-school Work. Z*7 



258 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

deavor Society was organized April 15, 1891, with a mem- 
bership of 23. 

The helps now provided for the teachers are Peloubet's 
Notes and the " Sunday-school Times." The t Peloubet's 
graded series of question books are used by the scholars. 
This series was introduced into the school in December, 
1886. The Sunday-school hymn books are " Spiritual 
Songs " and selections from Handel and Haydn. The Sun- 
day-school paper is " Our Sunday Afternoon " for the main 
school and the picture paper, " Our Little Ones," for the 
Primary Department. 

The names of the superintendents in the order of their 
services are as follows : Lemuel Watts Wells, who was the 
first superintendent, elected in 1852; William C. Foote, 
elected in 1858, and resigned May 15, 1864. He was as- 
sisted by Mr. Donnelson. S. H. Thayer, elected May 22, 
1864, to 1867; T. Fowler Travis, elected May 23, 1867; 
William A. Gibson; Ezekiel Y. Bell, elected 1873, to 1874; 
John W. Skinner, Acting Superintendent during Mr. 
Bell's absence in 1873; G. Livingston Morse, 1874 to 1876; 
Walter W. Law, Assistant Superintendent Rev. T. Ralston 
Smith, D. D., Pastor, elected April, 1876, to 1879. G. Liv- 
ingston Morse, Assistant; Edward Dwight, elected April, 
1879, to l88 °- William R. Mott officiated during Mr. 
Dwight's absence in Europe. Horace H. Thayer, elected 
April, 1880, to 1 88 1 ; Charles Collins, elected April, 1881, 
to 1883, assisted by Jasper Van Vleck ; Walter Graves, Sep- 
tember, 1883, to 1884; William W. Ellsworth, elected May, 
1885 ; and William E. Ketcham, Assistant Superintendent, 
elected May, 1885, resigned June, 1889; and George A. 
Chamberlin, elected June 9, 1889. Under his superintend- 
ency the school has met with marked success and is grow, 
ing in interest and prosperity. 

The present — January, 1891 — officers and teachers of 
the school are : George A. Chamberlin, Superintendent. 
George D. Mackay, Vice-President, was succeeded February, 
1 891, by R. E. Prime. Mrs. Henry A. Blake, Lady Super- 
intendent, elected November 10, 1889. Mrs. Ezra Fancher 
succeeded Mrs. Blake, who resigned May, 1890. William 
R. Mott, Secretary and Treasurer ; George A. Flagg, Libra- 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 259 

rian, who was appointed Assistant Librarian April, 1883, 
and has had the entire charge of the library since April, 
1886; J. E. Jardine, Assistant Librarian. 

The record book of the school for 1889-91 shows the 
following teachers : Theodore Gilman, Horace H. Thayer, 
George A. Chamberlin, Ralph E. Prime, George D. Mac- 
kay, Howard Chamberlin, Rev. J. Hendrik de Vries, 
teacher of the Young Men's Bible-class, meeting in the 
pastor's study in the church ; Miss Frances L. Upham, Miss 
Julia Baird, Miss Mary F. Randolph, Miss Mariette Flagg, 
Miss Mary Warner, Miss Hamblin, Miss J. E. Lemon, Miss 
Susie L. Heermance, Miss Georgie Heermance, Miss Geor- 
gia Law, Miss Louise J. Kirkwood, Miss Thayer, Miss Kate 
Prime, Miss Margaret Otis, Miss Lucy Otis, Mary L. Lewis, 
Dr. Franklin Soper, Prof. Ezra B. Fancher, R. Earl Prime, 
Jr., Schuyler A. Bogart, Ray Otis, Mrs. E. B. Fancher, Miss 
Louise D. Pitkin, Miss Edith Elting, Miss Elizabeth Flagg, 
Miss Strang, Miss Hattie M. Soper, Miss Alta V. Hodges, 
Miss Fannie Barnes Blake, and Miss Louise M. Goodrich. 
Miss Irene A. Hine is Superintendent of the Primary De- 
partment, and Miss Agnes E. Kirkwood, Assistant Super- 
intendent. 

Rev. J. Hendrik de Vries is the director of music, 
assisted by Miss Fannie L. Upham. 

The school has a Teachers' Reserve List, the object of 
which is the supplying of the places of any teachers when 
absent. The following are the present members of this 
class: Mrs. T. M. Lyall, Mrs. J. Lindsay Porteous, Mrs. 
Eliza Soper, Mrs. E. M. Heermance, Miss A. E. Kirkwood. 

The school has a birthday-box. December, 1886, the 
proceeds of it — $13 39 — were appropriated to the Charity 
Organization Society. February, 1888, in compliance with 
the suggestion of Mrs. Balch, the amount in the box — 
$10 58 — was " appropriated for the purchase of twenty-five 
pairs of rubber shoes for those who live in the poorly 
paved parts of the city and were obliged to go through 
the slush and mud." One destitute family enumera- 
ted "nice new rubbers as among the blessings they en- 
joyed." 

William R. Mott has been the efficient, prompt, and 



260 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

genial secretary of this school for twenty years, and for his 
long term of service in connection with this school stands 
fifth on the " Honor Roll " of Sunday-school teachers in 
Yonkers. 

The enrolment list September, 1887, was as follows: 
Whole number of officers and teachers, 29 ; scholars, 290 — 
sixty-two of whom are members of the Primary Depart- 
ment. During the year ending 1887 seventeen of the 
scholars from the Sunday-school united with the church on 
profession of faith. The number uniting with the church 
from January, 1888, to September, 1888, was fifteen. There 
are 609 volumes in the library. 

The teachers' prayer-meeting is held for fifteen min- 
utes on Sunday morning before the opening of the 
school. 

The present membership of the school — January, 1 891 — 
officers and teachers, is 325. 

The school record books show that a large number of 
the pupils succeeded their parents as teachers in the school, 
a prophecy of the hymn sung on one of their anniversary 
occasions, entitled "The True Succession." 

This Sunday-school, like the banyan-tree, bending 
down its branches to take root on every side, is the parent 
tree from whose branches have originated three Sunday- 
schools, some of whose teachers subsequently became the 
founders of the Westminster and Dayspring Presbyterian 
churches and the Immanuel Chapel Sunday-school. 

This school has as representative in the foreign mis- 
sionary field, Miss Ada M. Daughaday, who was a very suc- 
cessful teacher in the main school, also of the Primary De- 
partment. She has been laboring with success in Japan 
for several years. In the report of 1867 of the Osaka sta- 
tion of the Japan Mission of the American Board, in a brief 
notice of the First Church of the Osaka Mission, her work 
is thus mentioned : " Great praise is due to Miss Daugha- 
day, who devotedly and systematically has worked, and is 
working alone, in this much-crowded school." The school 
numbers 213 pupils. 

The advisory committee on benevolence of the organi- 
zation of the " King's Sons and Daughters " of this Sunday- 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 261 

school are : Miss Louise J. Kirkwood, Miss Marietta Flagg, 
Miss Heermance, and Miss Kate Prime. 

The amount raised for home and foreign missions by 
the King's Sons and Daughters for the year 1890 was 
$225 50. The President of this organization is Miss Susie 
L. Heermance, the Secretary Miss Lyla M. Soper, and the 
Treasurer is H. G. Waring. 



262 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 



CHAPTER X. 

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND SUNDAY- 
SCHOOL. 

The Westminster Presbyterian Church was the out- 
growth of the School Street Mission Sunday-school, which 
was organized September 16, 1855, an d the facts concern- 
ing the organization and history of this church are as 
follows : 

During the summer and fall of 1857 the Sunday- 
school was graciously visited with the outpouring of God's 
Spirit, and in the following January there were some seven- 
teen conversions among the scholars and as many more 
were inquirers. The question was then forced upon the 
teachers as to their duty in the circumstances. A meeting 
was held at the residence of Archibald Baxter, on Locust 
Hill Avenue, January 19, 1858. There were present fifteen 
persons, all but one teachers in the school. 

After careful deliberation it was the unanimous opinion 
of the meeting that the circumstances in which they had 
been providentially placed, the past success and present pros- 
pects of the enterprise, called for a new organization, and 
the following resolutions were unanimously adopted : 

Resolved, That we who are here present deem it our 
duty to form a new Presbyterian Church in Yonkers. 

Resolved, That we apply to the Third Presbytery of 
New York to effect the proposed organization. 

Resolved, That Messrs. John Davidson, Josiah Rich, and 
Archibald Baxter be a committee to make application to 
the Rev. Dr. Hatfield, of New York city, to procure the 
necessary action of the said Presbytery. 

Resolved, That we, being members of the First Presby- 
terian Church, Yonkers, address the following communica- 
tion to the pastor of the said church : " We, the under- 
signed, members of your church, deeming it to be our 
duty to form a new church in this village, respectfully 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 263 

request you to furnish us with the necessary letters of dis- 
mission. 

Archibald Baxter, Jessie Baxter, 

Henry H. Parsons, Emelia Parsons, 

Josiah Rich, Carrie M. Rich, 

John Nairn, Janet C. Nairn, 

John Davidson, Anne Davidson, 

H. A. Underwood, Emma P. Underwood, 

Duncan C. Ralston, Mary Ralston, 

William Steedman, Marion P. Steedman." 

To this, at an adjourned meeting, held January 20, 
1858, there were added the names of Charlotte Baird and 
Lucy Marsh. 

On January 25, 1858, the Third Presbytery of New 
York received and entertained the application, and on Feb- 
ruary 3, 1858, the church was organized with the already 
named eighteen persons as members. Rev. D. B. Coe, 
D. D., presided, and organized the church under the name 
of the Westminster Church, Yonkers. Rev. D. M. Seward, 
D. D., Rev. V. M. Hulbert, D. D., and Dr. Kinsley also 
took part in the exercises of organization. A congrega- 
tional meeting followed, when Messrs. Archibald Baxter, 
Henry A. Underwood, and William Steedman were elected 
elders, the two latter receiving ordination, and Messrs. 
John Davidson and John Nairn were chosen deacons. Of 
the original eighteen members but one — Mrs. Emelia Par- 
sons — remains in the communion of the Westminster 
Church to-day, May, 1891. 

In the historical discourse preached by Rev. L. W. 
Mudge, in July, 1876, from which a portion of the history 
of this church is taken, he says : "As this history is to go 
on record, courtesy to other denominations demands some 
explanation of the fact that a union enterprise was so 
abruptly turned into a Presbyterian Church. The fact is it 
was never a union Sabbath-school but in name. Its origi- 
nators and supporters, its missionary and stated supply, 
and, as far as any record shows, every one of its teachers 
were Presbyterian. If any members of other churches 
were connected with the school, the record shows conclu- 
sively that it was by accident of invitation or personal in- 



264 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

terest, and that no other than Presbyterians were ever con- 
nected with its support or control." 

The first pastor of this church was Rev. Rollin A. 
Sawyer (now Rev. Dr. Sawyer), who was called to the pas- 
torate, February 11, 1858. The ordination and installation 
services occurred at the Getty Lyceum, February 17. The 
devotional exercises were conducted by Rev. Wm. Babbit, 
Moderator of the Presbytery, Rev. Mr. Sawyer resigned 
the pastorate to accept a call extended to him from the 
First Church of Dayton, Ohio, April 3, 1862. 

The first persons among the converts who presented 
themselves to the session and were received into the mem- 
bership of the church were Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Lorenz, 
the latter of whom subsequently became an active and 
efficient worker, both in the church and Sunday-school, 
until her removal from the city. Thirty-two were added 
at the first communion, March 14, 1858, and by the end of 
the church year, the church reported to the Presbytery a 
membership of no. 

Rev. Mr. Mudge in his historical discourse says re- 
garding the early history of this church : 

" We have been very particular as to the incidents 
connected with the formation of the church, but must pass 
over the years following in more rapid review." 

In the record of October 28, 1858, we find this minute : 

Resolved unanimously, That it is expedient for this 
church to take immediate steps towards the erection of a 
house of worship. 

The matter was given into the hands of a committee 
of five : Messrs. Archibald Baxter, John Davidson, Henry 
A. Underwood, Josiah Rich, and Frederick Lorenz. In 
December the Church Manual was published in both En- 
glish and German. On the 23d of December, Josiah Rich 
was chosen elder, and was ordained and installed Jan- 
uary 2, 1859. 

Concerning the church building, which was in progress 
at this time, the record is almost entirely silent. Here, as 
in many other matters, I have been compelled to rely upon 
information received from former pastors and the older 
members of the church still in its communion. It seems 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 265 

that the place of worship was changed in June, 1858, to a 
hall which was known as the lecture-room, corner of 
North Broadway and Wells Avenue. For the present 
building, lots of ground were given by Josiah Rich, on 
Woodworth Avenue, for which an exchange was made to 
the two lots on which the church now stands, the four 
vacant lots to the north having been purchased at $700 
apiece. The church building cost in the neighborhood of 
$8,000, and $3,500 had been raised by April, 1859. This 
building was a brick structure, and its seating capacity, 
with the gallery, was between 500 and 600. 

The church was dedicated, a considerable debt remain- 
ing. On the first Sabbath of May, Mr. Sawyer preached in 
the morning on a " Plea for Free Churches," a union ser- 
vice being held in the evening. Interesting exercises were 
held during the week, especially on Thursday, when Dr. 
Cuyler preached in the afternoon, and in the evening a 
number of clergymen spoke, the principal address being 
by Prof. R. D. Hitchcock, strongly indorsing the objects of 
the enterprise. Among those who took part in these exer- 
cises, special mention should be made of Rev. Robert Kirk^ 
wood, R. G. Pardee, and Mr. Edman, then a student and 
now a minister, having had charge of Mr. Moody's church 
in Chicago during his absence. It was an evident blow to 
the now settled church that, immediately after the dedica- 
tion of the building, the pastor was compelled to take a 
long vacation of four months on account of the state of his 
health. During his absence the church was supplied gen- 
erally by professors of Princeton and New York. 

On August 14, 1862, a call was given for the pastoral 
services of Rev. H. G. Hinsdale, which was declined. 

October 16 of the same year a call was extended to Rev. 
Samuel Thompson Carter, a graduate of Princeton Seminary, 
which was accepted, and on Thursday, November 13, 1862, 
he was regularly ordained to the work of the gospel minis- 
try and installed pastor of the church. Rev. Dr. McElroy 
presided and preached a sermon from Jer. 23 : 25-29. 

In the early pastorate of Rev. Mr. Carter, the church 
sustained a severe loss in the removal from this place and 
country of Mr. and Mrs. John Nairn and Mr. and Mrs. 



266 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

William Steedman. To fill the vacancies thus made in the 
offices of the church, at a meeting of the church and con- 
gregation held March 26, 1863, G. P. Reevs, M. D., was 
chosen elder, and E. Curtice and D. C. Ralston deacons. 
They were ordained and installed the Sunday following. 
On April 27, 1864, another of the original members, Archi- 
bald Baxter, having removed to Brooklyn, resigned his 
eldership and took his letter of dismission ; and on Sep- 
tember 14, 1865, James E. Goddard was elected elder, and 
Alexander O. Kirkwood deacon, they being ordained Sun- 
day, September 24. 

The church during Mr. Carter's pastorate was for some 
time prosperous, and was especially noted for its delightful 
social character, and through his efforts in the year 1864 a 
considerable sum of money was raised for liquidating the 
debt upon the church, which, with liberal gifts from others, 
secured the removal of the entire debt. 

Rev. Mr. Carter continued to be pastor of the church 
until April 9, 1867, when he resigned. 

At this juncture the church passed through some un- 
happy experiences which for truth's sake must be noted 
but need not be dwelt upon. The congregation declined 
to unite with the pastor in his request, and tendered him a 
leave of absence for any length of time that might be nec- 
essary for the complete restoration of his health. Mr. 
Carter pressed his resignation and the pastoral relation 
was dissolved by the Second Presbytery of New York, 
April 16, 1867. 

Mr. Carter's pastorate extended over a period of four 
years and six months, one month longer than that of Mr. 
Sawyer, although the latter was in connection with the 
enterprise for nearly two years previous to the organiza- 
tion of the church. During Mr. Carter's pastorate eighty- 
nine were added to the church, forty-six on certificate and 
forty-three on profession. 

Rev. Mr. Carter after a season of rest assumed the pas- 
torate of the Yorkville Presbyterian Church, New York, 
where he remained two years. After this he was called to 
the pastorate of the First Church, Huntington, L. I., where 
he still remains, April, 1891. 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 267 

Rev. Mr. Carter was succeeded by Rev. Lewis Ward 
Mudge ( now Rev. Dr. Mudge ), also a graduate from 
Princeton Seminary, who accepted the call extended to 
him by the church July 11, 1867. The services of ordina- 
tion and installation took place on Thursday, August 1. 
Rev. Matthew T. Adam was moderator. . Prof. W. H. 
Green, D. D., of Princeton, preached the sermon from 
Luke 24 : 8 : "And they remembered his words." 

Rev. Mr. Mudge continued as pastor until May 6, 1877, 
when he resigned his pastorate to accept a call which had 
been extended to him in April of the same year from the 
Second Presbyterian Church of Princeton, N. J. Thus was 
brought to a close a pastorate of nearly ten years, which 
covered one-half of the period of the existence of the 
church. His ministry was most fruitful in additions to the 
church and his labors most abundant in every good word 
and work both in the church and in the community, and 
during his pastorate there were added to the membership 
roll 298, of which 189 were on profession and 109 on cer- 
tificate. 

Rev. Mr. Mudge was followed by Rev. John Dixon, 
(now Rev. Dr. Dixon). 

Rev. Mr. Dixon served the church until August 10, 
1884, when the pastoral relation was dissolved by the Pres- 
bytery of Westchester, he having accepted a call from the 
First Presbyterian Church in Trenton, N. J., in July of the 
same year. Mr. Dixon's resignation was accepted reluc- 
tantly by the church to which he had endeared himself by 
his tender care and sympathetic feeling, as their pastor, as 
a Christian gentleman of noble bearing, and as a clear, 
sound, and powerful expositor of Scripture truth. 

Rev. Mr. Dixon's pastorate was of nearly seven years 
and was marked by great prosperity in every department 
of the church, which grew in social influence and financial 
power. The erection and completion of the new church 
edifice was largely due to his financial skill, untiring indus- 
try and never ceasing faithfulness. 

During the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Mudge a building 
fund for the erection of a new house of worship was started. 
In this new project the young ladies of the church were 



268 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

most active and efficient. In February, 1875, a fair was 
held in Radford Hall lasting three days, the proceeds of 
which and a series of entertainments held about that time, 
were over $1,500. In the spring of 1878 the subject of a 
new church building was again agitated and another fair 
was held in Washburn Hall in December, 1878, under the 
management of the Ladies' New Church Building Society, 
of which Mrs. John Dickson was President, Mrs. E. Cur- 
tice and Mrs. Charles R. Otis, Vice-Presidents, Mrs. A. O. 
Kirkwood, Secretary, and Mrs. John H. Brown, Treasurer. 
This fair netted $1,400. 

A festival and tent sale held in a large tent — which 
pleasantly accommodated a thousand persons — on the 
grounds adjoining the church, realized over $400 over and 
above expenses. 

At the annual meeting in June, 1878, a building com- 
mittee consisting of Messrs. Charles R. Otis, Norton P. 
Otis, E. A. Houston, J. T. Sproull, and R. E. Prime were 
appointed with power to add to their number. Mr. Prime 
declining to serve, his place was filled and the committee 
enlarged by the election of Mr. W. T. Crook and Rev. Mr. 
Dixon. The building committee were prohibited, by the 
unanimous vote of the congregation, from incurring any 
debt in the erection of the new building. At this time it 
was intended to build on the adjoining lots, which had 
been in the possession of the church from the start, and 
which were bought for that purpose. The continued 
growth of the Sunday-school prompted the building com- 
mittee to recommend to the trustees to exchange their 
property for a better site immediately opposite. This was 
done and the plans were altered so as to give accommoda- 
tions to over 600 scholars. Upon this new site the founda- 
tion was laid in the fall of 1879. 

The services of the laying of the corner stone of the 
new church were held in the old church building on Thurs- 
day afternoon, May 20, 1880, at 2 : 30 o'clock. The follow- 
ing was the order of exercises : Invocation by Rev. Charles 
E. Allison. Hymn, " Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Al- 
mighty." Reading of the Scriptures by Rev. David Cole, 
D. D. Prayer by Rev. John Reid. Address by Rev. Rollin 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 269 

A. Sawyer, D. D. Hymn, " I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord." 
Address by Rev. Samuel T. Carter. Hymn, " Christ is 
Made the Sure Foundation." Doxology, " Praise God from 
Whom all Blessings Flow." 

At the conclusion of these services the clergymen and 
congregation proceeded to the site of the new church edi- 
fice, near the northeast corner of Warburton and Wells 
Avenues. After prayer was offered, the pastor, Rev. John 
Dixon, repeated the following words : " Except the Lord 
build the house they labor in vain who build it. Our help 
is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. 
Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, 
which is Jesus Christ, the chief corner-stone, elect, precious, 
to whom coming as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed 
of men, but chosen of God and precious, and who is God 
over all blessed for ever more, amen." 

Holding the silver trowel in his hand — which was pre- 
sented for this occasion by Charles Edwin Otis, son of 
Mayor Otis — Mr. Dixon said : " In the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, I lay the corner- 
stone of a building to be here erected under the name of 
the Westminster Church of Yonkers, and devoted to the 
worship of Almighty God, according to the usages of the 
Presbyterian Church in the United States." 

Prayer was then offered, and the benediction closed 
the interesting exercises.* 

The copper box which was placed in the corner-stone 
contained the following articles : A Bible, a copy of the 
Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church, photo- 
graphs of the pastors of the church, the names of the offi- 
cers of the church and Sunday-school, the Church Manual, 
a catalogue of the Sunday-school library, the programme 
of exercises of. the laying of the corner-stone, copies of the 
"New York Observer," the " New York Evangelist," the 
"Yonkers Gazette," and the "Yonkers Statesman." 

The church is built of gray stone and has a spire 145 

* Through the enterprise of Alexander O. Kirkwood, photographs of 
the scene of the laying of the corner-stone of this building were taken by 
H. S. Wyer, the proceeds of the sale of which went into the church build- 
ing fund. 



270 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

feet high. The entire cost of the building, including the 
furniture and the plot of ground, which is 81 by 125 feet, 
was about $35,000, of which all except about $5,000 was 
paid during Mr. Dixon's pastorate. The dimensions with 
the chapel in the rear are 62 by 107 feet. The auditorium 
is built in amphitheatre style and has a seating capacity of 
600. It has five aisles, four of which extend the length of 
the auditorium, the fifth extending half way up the centre 
of the church. The pews and pulpit furniture are of ash 
and varnished to correspond with the other woodwork. 
A door at either side of the pulpit communicates with a 
small vestibule which opens into the chapel in the rear of 
the church. The pastor's study, session room, and library 
are in the chapel. There are eight class-rooms in the 
chapel, which are separated from the main room by sliding 
sash windows. The kitchen is in the basement of the 
church. The architect of this building was L. B. Valk, of 
New York. The stonework was done by George Frazier, 
and the woodwork, under several separate contracts, by 
A. O. Kirkwood and John Brown. 

The last sermon in the old church * building was de, 
livered by the pastor, Rev. John Dixon, on Sunday morn- 
ing, July 17, 1 88 1. 

On Sunday morning, July 24, 1881, the first sermon 
was preached in the chapel of the new church by Rev. 
John Dixon, from Matt. 22 : 5. 

At the evening service a number of the resident cler- 
gymen occupied seats on the platform. The opening prayer 
was offered by Rev. H. M. Baird, D. D., and addresses were 
made by Rev. Dr. Cole, Rev. John Reid, Rev. Dr. De Los 
Lull, and Rev. Charles E. Allison. Singing, and the bene- 
diction by Rev. John Dixon, closed the interesting exercises. 

The new church was dedicated on Monday evening, 
October 23, 1882. The front of the pulpit and the altar- 
stand were profusely decorated with flowers artistically ar- 
ranged. Seated in the pulpit were Rev. John Hall, D. D., 
* The original German and English Testament deposited by Rev. Dr. 
Sawyer in the northeast corner of the old church building, is now in the 
possession of A. O. Kirkwood. It was found in the demolition of the 
church building at the erection of Dr. Charles A. Miles' house, which is 
located on the site of the old church building, No. 72 Warburton Avenue. 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 27 1 

of New York, Rev. Dr. Wilson Phraner, of Sing Sing, Rev. 
Mr. Birch, of New York, Rev. Dr. Niven, of Dobbs Ferry, 
Rev. H. M. Baird, D. D., Rev. Dr. Cole, Rev. I. S. Davison, 
Rev. C. E. Allison, Rev. John Reid, Rev. P. R. Hawx- 
hurst, and Rev. John Dixon. A quartette, composed of 
Miss Josie Sanders, alto, Mrs. Johnson, soprano, J. W. Ho- 
worth, tenor, and Walter Thomas, bass, with Miss Sanders 
as organist, furnished the music. 

The services opened with a brief prayer by Rev. Dr. 
Phraner, which was followed with the reading of a portion 
of Scripture by Rev. C. E. Allison, and prayer by Rev. Dr. 
Baird. Previous to the dedicatory sermon, which was de- 
livered by Rev. John Hall, D. D., of New York, Rev. John 
Dixon stated that the present cost of the building was 
$33,000, of which $24,000 had already been raised, leaving 
a balance of $9,000 to be paid. He said that to-night he 
would like $1,000 from his people. While the collection, 
which amounted to upwards of $1,000 was being taken, the 
choir sang " Thine, O Lord, is the Greatness." 

Dr. Hall then delivered the dedicatory sermon, from 
the text : " Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of 
Zion." Psa. 2:6. It was an able effort. Rev. Dr. Cole 
prayed, the choir sang again, and the services closed with 
the benediction by Rev. Alexander Scotland. 

The church held a sociable in the chapel on Tuesday 
evening, when there was vocal and instrumental music, 
readings, and brief addresses by Rev. Dr. Cole and Rev. 
John Dixon. 

The next pastor of the church was Rev. Charles P. 
Fagnani, a graduate of the Union Theological Seminary, 
New York. 

In February, 1886, Rev. Mr. Fagnani began to fail in 
health, in consequence of over-exertion in his previous 
charge, and February 1 7 of the same year the congregation 
granted him a leave of absence for eight months, hoping 
for his complete and permanent restoration to health there- 
by. July 31, 1886, Rev. and Mrs. Fagnani sailed for Europe. 
At a farewell meeting previous, his congregation presented 
him with a purse of $300, accompanied with expressions of 
sincere regret at his departure and hopes for his safe re- 



272 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

turn. During his absence the pulpit was supplied for a few 
months by ministers from other churches. Rev. Mr. Fag- 
nani resigned his pastorate in March, 1887. 

During Mr. Fagnani's leave of absence the interior 
of the church and chapel was destroyed by an accidental 
fire which occurred on Sunday morning, February 28, 1886, 
at 7:30 o'clock. Through the efficient efforts of the fire de- 
partment the fire was entirely subdued by ten o'clock, but 
the beautiful church was in ruins and its people in tears, 
pastorless and homeless. Under these peculiarly trying 
circumstances they did not lose heart or hope, but through 
their energetic efforts, even while the church was burning, 
arrangements were made for an evening service and notice 
given to that effect. The first to reach the scene of disaster 
among the Yonkers pastors was Rev. John Reid, pastor of 
the First Presbyterian Church, who offered the use of his 
church, and the regular evening service was held at his 
special request in that church. 

At the close of the evening service the congregation 
joined in devotional exercises, which were characterized by 
deep feeling. At a meeting held the day after, the follow- 
ing minutes were prepared, which were adopted and sent to 
the various churches of the city who had kindly placed 
their respective places of worship at their disposal : 

" In the providence of God we have been called upon to 
pass through deep waters. The elements have destroyed 
our house of worship and ' our gates are burned with fire.' 
In the midst of our sorrow and tears our Christian brethren 
of the city have thrown open their church doors to us, 
and have pressed upon us all that God has given them, and 
desire that we should work and worship therein. They 
have withheld nothing from us. We desire to assure all 
those who have so kindly visited us in our trouble that we 
appreciate and are grateful for all this courtesy and kind- 
ness, and we know that it is the expression of their love in 
Christ for us, and while we cannot make use of all that has 
been offered, our hearts are full and we treasure this kind- 
ness as the sure proof of the one faith and one Lord which 
always draw brethren together. We are constrained espe- 
cially to thank the officers of the First Presbyterian Church 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 273 

for their prompt and urgent invitation, placing at our 
disposal their church edifice for our use for worship, 
particularly on the day of the fire, for last evening, and 
the basement for the storage of all that we saved from the 
fire." 

At the same meeting resolutions of thanks to the mem- 
bers of the fire department and the police department for 
their efficient efforts in our behalf were passed. 

The following minute was entered upon the sessional 
records and a copy thereof sent to Rev. John Reid, pastor 
of the First Presbyterian Church of this city, as expressive 
of the feeling of the church and congregation towards him 
for his kindly sympathy, warm interest in, and personal 
service to the church during the time they were without 
their church home and without a pastor : 

" Happy in the constant enjoyment of the new relation 
consummated between the pastor and the people of West- 
minster Church, the memories of elders and people alike 
revert to the last four months now immediately past, and 
recall the leadings of our Heavenly Father and the paths 
in which we have walked. We exercise our hearts for new 
work with the recollection of the loving words and works 
of those who have shown warmest affection for and interest 
in us. None have been more kind and loving than our 
brother, Rev. John Reid, pastor of the First Presbyterian 
Church. We recall his interest and his wise counsel in the 
study, the prayer-meeting, and in the pulpit. We owe to 
him a debt of love we cannot hope to repay. To wish him 
well in any and all his interests seems too much like formal 
words and a perfunctory act. We assure him that his affec- 
tion has not been sown in cold hearts. We shall not forget 
the close Christian fellowship which with him we have en- 
joyed, but wish it may grow and ripen with years." 

The Sunday following the fire, church services were 
held in the hall of the Woman's Christian Temperance 
Union, North Broadway, it having been secured until the 
completion of the reconstructed church. In the interim the 
congregation nobly held together and all the departments 
of the church work were efficiently and successfully car- 
ried on. 

Church and Sunday-school Work. 1 3 



274 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The loss on the church was $30,000, and the insurance 
$31,000. The work of restoring the church building was 
begun promptly and its formal rededication took place on 
Thursday evening, November 4, 1886. The main audience- 
room was crowded and many were turned away, being 
unable to get in. The church presented a brilliant appear- 
ance, the shining of the gas upon the handsome stained- 
glass windows producing a charming effect. It was taste- 
fully adorned with flowers, the presentations of members 
of the Baptist, Methodist, and other churches. 

Seated in the pulpit were Rev. Dr. Taylor, of the 
Broadway Tabernacle, New York, Rev. John Dixon, of 
Trenton, N. J., Rev. Dr. Cole, Prof. H. M. Baird, D. D., 
Rev. Charles E. Allison, Prof. I. S. Davison, and Rev. Ed- 
ward C. Moore, temporary pastor of the church. 

The services commenced with a voluntary on the 
organ, played by George Jardine, after which a doxology 
was sung, the congregation rising. The prayer of invoca- 
tion was then given by Rev. Mr. Dixon. Rev. Mr. Allison 
read the fourth chapter of St. John. An eloquent sermon 
was preached by Rev. Dr. Taylor from these words : " For 
where two or three are gathered together in My name, 
there am I in the midst of them." Matt. 18 : 20. 

Rev. Dr. Cole read the hymn " I Love Thy Church, O 
God," after singing which, the congregation remaining 
standing, Rev. Mr. Moore said, " In the providence of God, 
this church has been called to pass through deep waters. 
The long and trying illness to which its pastor was sub- 
jected had but fairly passed when the church was in ashes. 
The hand of God has been laid on heavy. The discipline 
of God has been for the development of our powers to a de- 
gree that we hitherto were not aware of. God has gone 
before. He it is who gives the hope to this people of the 
restoration of its pastor. He it is that brings them both 
face to face with a new epoch. God goes before us. The 
ark of God goes before us. The goodness of the Lord is 
now seen and this people gives praise and thanksgiving to 
God. This is the offering of this church unto God. Let it 
be the beginning of the renewal of their service. Let them 
hereafter give to Him the best they have, to His honor and 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 275 

glory." Mr. Moore concluded his remarks with a prayer of 
consecration. Rev. Mr. Dixon followed in congratulatory 
remarks. The hymn, " The Church's One Foundation," was 
sung, after which Rev. Mr. Davidson pronounced the bene- 
diction. 

The reconstructed edifice was formally opened for 
public worship on the first Sunday of November, 1886. In 
the evening a special communion service was held. 

In the rebuilding of the new edifice the main plan of 
the burned structure was adhered to. But the additional 
improvements were many and important, both as to appear- 
ance and convenience. First and foremost of these is the 
organ, which was built by George Jardine, of New York, at 
a cost of $3,500, and is a fine piece of mechanism. It is 
placed behind the pulpit in the east end of the church, 
with a mechanical connection of keyboard which is placed 
in the centre of the church, thus making the organist and 
choir a part of the congregation. 

The next important improvement is the new gallery 
which extends around three sides of the main audience- 
room. The incline is moderate and the pews are so ar- 
ranged that in all parts of the gallery the sitter directly 
faces the pulpit. The front guard is low, and is surmounted 
by a bronzed galvanized iron rail. 

There are four entrances to the gallery — one in the 
north and one in the south tower, and one leading to each 
of the staircases into the lecture-room. Its seating capacity 
is two hundred and fifty, which added to that of the main 
auditorium makes the entire seating capacity of the church 
between seven and eight hundred. 

The corrugated iron ceiling is thirty-eight feet above 
the floor, and is painted a turquoise blue, while the walls 
are fawn-colored and trimmed with olive. The cellars 
were excavated and laid with concrete, and everything 
in the way of protection against fire was seen to. 

The glass of the handsome windows is opalescent. 
There are three principal windows— one in the front facing 
Warburton Avenue, one on the north side and one on the 
south. Over each of these three windows is a group of 
smaller windows of peculiar shape. 



276 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The centre of the group on Warburton Avenue contains 
a dove, that on the south side of the church a cross and 
crown, and that on the north side an open Bible. The 
principal ornaments of each of the large windows are two 
vines reaching nearly the length of the central compart- 
ments. The windows were built by Otto C. Falck, of New 
York. 

The church is sixty-two feet square, and the lecture- 
room is twenty-five by seventy-four, with extensions. 

The pulpit is new and of chaste design. It is built of 
ash and cherry. 

The auditorium is lighted by three chandeliers in the 
ceiling. The large one in the centre has eighty jets, and 
the two smaller ones forty jets each. The jets are lighted 
by electricity. 

In the chapel but few changes were made, a fire-escape 
having been added and a new session-room. The edifice is 
a picturesque one ; the green ivy leaves with which it is al- 
most covered and the rough-hewn stone form a pleasing 
contrast. 

Charles R. Otis, Norton P. Otis, and Ralph E. Prime 
constituted the building committee of the reconstructed 
edifice ; and Walter Thomas, Charles R. Otis, and Col. 
Womersley the furniture committee. S. Francis Quick did 
the carpenter work. 

On June 14, 1888, a Mendelssohn concert was held in 
the church, the proceeds of which were appropriated to the 
liquidation of the church debt. 

The late pastor, Rev. Edward C. Moore, came as a 
stated supply to the church October, 1886. May 5, 1887, he 
received a unanimous call from the church to become their 
pastor, which was accepted, and the installation services 
were held in the church on Thursday evening, June 30, 
1887. They were conducted by Rev. William Hart Dexter, 
Moderator of the Presbytery. 

The sermon was delivered by Rev. George F. Moore, 
brother of the pastor, professor of Oriental languages and 
Old Testament exegesis in Andover Theological Seminary. 
The charge to the pastor was by his father, Rev. Wm. E. 
Moore, D. D., pastor of the Second Church, of Columbus, 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 277 

Ohio. Rev. John Dixon, D. D., of Trenton, N. J., deliv- 
ered the charge to the people. The services throughout 




WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 



were very interesting and were listened to by a very large 
audience. 



278 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Rev. Edward Caldwell Moore was born in West Ches- 
ter, Pa., September i, 1857. He is the son of Rev. Wm. E. 
Moore, D. D., and grandson of the Rev. George Foote, D. D. 
He was graduated from Marietta College in 1877, and re- 
ceived his master's degree from the same institution in 
1880. He taught Latin and Greek in the Public High 
School, Columbus, Ohio, 1877 to 1881, studied theology in 
Union Seminary, New York city, 1881 to 1884, was gradua- 
ted as fellow of the seminary, and spent the next two years — 
1884 to 1886 — in the study of church history in the universi- 
ties of Giessen, Gcettingen, and Berlin, in Germany. On 
May 5, 1887, he was called to the pastorate of Westminster 
Church, Yonkers. 

In November, 1888, Rev. Mr. Moore received a call to 
the pastorate of the Central Congregational Church of 
Providence, R. I. The call was accepted and the Westches- 
ter Presbytery dissolved the pastoral relations December 
10, 1888, to take effect January 1, 1889. R ev - ^ r - Moore 
preached his farewell sermon as pastor of the Westminster 
Presbyterian Church, December 30, 1888, taking his text 
from 2 Corinthians 4:18. 

The congregation of the Westminster Church greatly 
regretted Mr. Moore's departure, and the best wishes of his 
many friends in Yonkers followed him to his new field of 
labor. 

Rev. Mr. Moore's pastorate of the Westminster Church 
was richly blessed, and under his care and leadership 
the church actively and efficiently prosecuted its work. 
Three thousand two hundred dollars on the debt of the 
church property of $8,800, which was incurred in the recon- 
struction of the new church edifice, was paid February, 
1888, and during his pastorate of but two years, one hun- 
dred and four persons were received into the commun- 
ion of the church. 

Rev. Zebulon B. Graves was temporary pastor of this 
church from October 6, 1889 till January 19, 1890. A unam 
imous call was extended by the church on September 10, 
1890, to Rev. George R. Cutting, of Lake Forest, 111., which 
was accepted September 24 of the same year. The fol- 
lowing notice of the pastor elect is taken from the " Yon- 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 279 

kers Gazette " of October 4, 1890, also from the " Waukegan ' 
(111.) Gazette " of September 27, 1890: 

*' The pastor elect was prepared for college at the Wal- 
tham (Mass.) High School, and graduated from the classical 
course at Amherst College with high honors. Later on he 
took a theological* course at Auburn Theological Seminary. 
In 1887 he was called as principal of Lake Forest Academy, 
entering the faculty of Lake Forest (111.) University when 
William C. Roberts, LL. D., became president of the latter 
institution. From 1888 to 1890 he held the chair of ora- 
tory in Lake Forest College. In this line of effort he ex- 
cels, not only possessing the faculty of imparting the art to 
others, but also being a concrete exemplar of modern ora- 
tory. 

" Rev. Mr. Cutting is a man of diversified gifts. His 
executive ability, as evinced by his management of Lake 
Forest Academy, was of the highest order ; his qualities as 
a gentleman of society are specially noticeable ; he pos- 
sesses a temper sunshiny, kindly, and entertaining. He 
was widely sought after in and about Chicago, as a pulpit 
supply, and he has occupied the leading pulpits thereabouts. 
He is not less favorably known in the churches of central 
New York. As a pastor he has a reputation for tact and 
the understanding of human nature that makes him valu- 
able. During his short sojourn in the West he was promi- 
nently identified with State and National educational inter- 
ests. He was president of the Presbyterian Ministers' Asso- 
ciation of Chicago, an influential union of ninety prominent 
clergymen of Chicago and its vicinity. 

" His reason for leaving the college professorship was 
that he felt specially called to the work of the pastorate." 

The installation of Rev. George R. Cutting as pastor 
of the Westminster Presbyterian Church took place on 
Thursday evening, November 6, 1890. Rev. John H. Tru- 
sell, of Brewsters, Moderator of the Westchester Presbytery, 
presided and propounded the constitutional questions ; Rev. 
Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler, of Brooklyn, preached the sermon ; 
Rev. Dr. Reid of the First Presbyterian Church, delivered 
the charge to the pastor, and Rev. William H. Dexter, of 
Thompsonville, Conn., delivered the charge to the people. 



28o CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

A reception to the new pastor was given in the church 
the following evening. 

The membership of the church at this writing, May, 
1 89 1, is 379, as shown by the revised membership roll in 
the manual issued May, 1891. 

The Westminster Presbyterian Church has always 
taken a great interest in missionary work and continues un- 
ceasingly to do so. Sprung itself from a mission, it has 
been ever forward in good works, not only in foreign fields, 
but here at home as well. Its third pastor, Rev. L. W. 
Mudge, D. D., was for years the pastor of the city for those 
who had no pastor, or were of no church, and thus it be- 
came the leader of the churches in mission work. 

In the spring of 1866 the church secured the services 
of Mrs. Elizabeth Russell (now Mrs. McKenzie) as Bible- 
reader. Her labors in connection with this church and 
the community were abundantly blessed. Mrs. Russell 
continued in the service of the church for several years. 

Early in the year 1868 Mrs. Margaret J. Herron, a 
teacher in the Sunday-school, and sister of J. H. Brown, 
left with her husband, Rev. David Herron, for their mission 
field, Dehra, India. A farewell missionary meeting was 
held in the church on Thursday evening, January 2, of that 
year. In her work among the heathen she was indefatiga- 
ble and no higher human compliment could be passed upon 
it than that given by Rev. J. S. Woodside. In his address 
upon "Woman's Work in India," before the Evangelical 
Alliance in New York, he spoke of the girls' boarding-school 
in Dehra and the results of Mrs. Herron's work as the no- 
blest specimen of what woman could do for woman in 
foreign lands. Mrs. Herron after five years of devoted 
service died at her post. 

The Ladies' Missionary Association of this church has 
supported a Bible-reader, Mrs. Esteer Hadad, in Abeiah, 
Syria, for thirteen years, since its organization, January 10, 
1878, and continues to do so at the present time. The 
church also assumed the entire support of Miss S. Bell 
Sherwood — a niece of Elder John H. Brown — for a number 
of years. Miss Sherwood was appointed missionary to 
Hamadan, Persia, by the ladies' Board of Missions of the 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 28 1 

Presbyterian Church in 1883, and sailed for her mission 
field September 26, 1883. On Sunday evening, Septem- 
ber 15, of the same year, a deeply interesting farewell 
meeting was held in the church. 

The missionary service will long be remembered as 
one of peculiar privilege and interest. Miss Sherwood, now 
Mrs. Hawks, with her husband, Rev. James Hawks, is still 
laboring with great success in Hamadan, the place where 
Queen Esther was laid to rest 

In the spring of 1885 Miss Georgiana Hicks began her 
labors as missionary visitor, and still continues an earnest 
and successful worker in the duties of 'that position. Rev. 
Mr. Moore, recent pastor of this church, bears grateful 
testimony to the efficiency and usefulness of her labors in 
connection with his pastorate. 

The Westminster Presbyterian Church was the first 
to begin Christian work among the German population of 
Yonkers, and Was largely instrumental in the formation of 
the First German — now the German Lutheran — Church of 
this city. It also did efficient work among the colored 
people of the city in the year 1867. 

OFFICERS WESTMINSTER CHURCH. 
Elders. Deacons. 

Ordained: Ordained: 

May 12, 1867. John H. Brown, July 8, 1883. Morton W. Newman. 

June 20, 1880. Charles R. Otis, Oct. 25, 1891. Wm. P. Constable. 

Sep. 30, 1883. Wm. McKim, Clerk, Oct. 25, 1891. Charles H. Haight. 

Sep. 30, 1883. J. R. McWilliam, Treas., Oct. 25, 1891. G. A. Englehardt, Jr. 
Oct. 25, 1891. Alexander O. Kirkwood, Oct. 25, 1891. William Ewing. 
Oct. 25, 1891. William L. Odell, Oct. 25, 1891. Thomas L. McKim. 

Oct. 25, 1891. Arthur S. Machin, 
Oct. 25, 1891. H. Beattie Brown, M. D. 

Trustees. 

Began Service: 

1887. F. B. Hickey, 1866. Charles R. Otis, 
1890. R. O. Kirkwood, 1877. William McKim, 
1884. W. H. Scott, 1886. N. A. Warren, M. D., 

1888. J. J. Littebrandt, 1882. Norton P. Otis, 

1878. Walter Thomas. 

William McKim, President, Walter Thomas, Secretary, 

Frank B. Hickey, Treasurer. 

The present officers of the Woman's Missionary So- 



282 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

ciety, 1 89 1, are: Mrs. A. O. Kirkwood, President; Mrs. John 
H. Brown, First Vice-President ; Mrs. John F. Pierce, 
Second Vice-President; Miss Josie Sanders, Treasurer; 
Mrs. Edward Clarke, Secretary. 

Miss Josie Sanders, as organist, served the church 
gratuitously for a period of nineteen years and a half. 
Miss Lizzie Biggerstaff is the present organist. The con- 
gregational singing is led by Walter Thomas, with a vol- 
unteer choir of twenty voices. 

The ushers are William P. Constable, James Austin, 
Robert O. Kirkwood, and George Engelhardt, Jr. 

George Fitzsimmons served as sexton from June, 1886, 
until 1889, prior to which time George Ryder was the sexton 
for several years. The present sexton is Ambrose S. Havey, 
who has filled the position efficiently since March 18, 1889. 

Mrs. George Ryder presented the church with a hand- 
some pulpit Bible in January, 1872, which is now used as 
the chapel Bible. The present pulpit Bible was presented 
by Rev. Dr. Phraner — formerly pastor of the First Presby- 
terian Church of Sing Sing — in place of his former gift, 
destroyed by fire, February 28, 1886. On its cover is in- 
scribed : " Pulpit Westminster Presbyterian Church, 
Yonkers." 

The communion service was presented by Mr. and 
Mrs. Alexander O. Kirkwood, as a thank-offering, July 28, 
1 88 1. The first communion service was presented to a 
Presbyterian church in Colorado, of which Rev. Alexander 
Scotland was the pastor. 

The baptismal font, which is of gray marble, was pre- 
sented by Hon. Norton P. Otis, July 28, 1881, and has in- 
scribed thereon : " One Lord, one faith, one baptism." 

The floral tables for the pulpit were presented by 
Edward Newton Brown. 

The sacrament of the Lord's Supper is celebrated in 
this church on the last Sunday morning of January, March, 
May, July, September, and November. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

At a union meeting of the Baptist, Methodist, Presby- 
terian, and Reformed churches, held in the First Methodist 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 283 

Church in the spring of 1855, Richard G. Pardee, agent of 
the New York Sunday-school Union, by invitation of a few 
gentlemen connected with the First Presbyterian Church, 
delivered an address on Sunday-school work, and urged 
the formation of a mission Sunday-school in Yonkers, stat- 
ing that there were at that time at least 700 children who 
did not attend Sunday-school. The result of this meeting 
was the organization of a Union Sunday-school Association 
in the month of May, 1855. 

At one of the monthly meetings of this association it 
was proposed to form a union mission Sunday-school. In 
pursuance of this decision, on September 16, 1855, a num- 
ber of Sunday-school teachers met at School No. 2, on 
School Street, and organized the School Street Mission Sab- 
bath-school, appointing Ebenezer Curtice Superintendent, 
and John Davidson* Assistant Superintendent. 

On the following Sunday there were present as teach- 
ers, Josiah Rich,f John Davidson, John Nairn, James 
Montgomery, Henry A. Underwood, Mrs. Emma P. Under- 

* By the will of John Davidson, one of the original members of the 
church, who died in the city of New York, January 16, 1884, the sum of 
$1,000 was left to the Westminster Church, which was appropriated to the 
organ fund of the new church. An extract from resolutions offered by the 
session of the Westminster Church, in reference to Deacon Davidson, 
deceased, reads : " Quiet, unassuming, and gentle, he faithfully discharged 
the duties and met the responsibilities that came to him ; his life was pure, 
honorable, and devoted." 

t Josiah Rich, one of the founders of the Westminster Church, also of 
the First Presbyterian Church of this city, was born in Cedar Street, New 
York City, February 4, 1809. When a resident of that city he was elected 
to several important public offices. He was president of the Board of Edu- 
cation, in 1842 alderman of the Seventh Ward, and in 1844 he was nomi- 
nated for mayor, but declined to accept. He was recognized as a man of 
more than ordinary ability as a speaker, and a ready and discriminating 
writer. And his indorsement of an applicant for a State office under 
Governors Marcy, Brouck, and Wright was conceded almost equivalent to 
an appointment. He was single minded and sincere, asking nothing for 
himself, and under no circumstances or pressure, political or personal, 
would he commend an applicant unless he was satisfied that he was capa- 
ble and worthy. In all of his business relations he won an envied reputa- 
tion for integrity and uprightness. 

April 30, 1850, Mr. Rich came to reside in Yonkers and was intimately 
associated with the rise and progress of the place, being ever active and 
efficient in every movement to improve the condition of the people finan- 



284 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

wood, Mrs. James Montgomery, Mrs. E. Curtice, and Miss 
Carrie Rich, and between twenty and twenty-five scholars. 
A few weeks afterward Archibald Baxter, William Steed- 
man, and Duncan C. Ralston were added to the list of 
teachers. James Montgomery was among the first schol- 
ars of the school, being present with his father, William 
Montgomery, at its organization. 

Duncan C. Ralston was the first secretary of the Sun- 
day-school, and subsequently served as its librarian for 
eleven years, which office he filled with great acceptance. 

In May, 1856, the average attendance of the school 
was about fifty children, when Rollin A. Sawyer, then a 
member of the middle class in the Union Theological 
Seminary, New York City, was invited to act as missionary 
in connection with the school. He spent Saturday after- 
noons in visiting, organized a young men's Bible-class, and 
at the close of the exercises of the school usually addressed 
the scholars. The result of Mr. Sawyer's Saturday after- 
noon visits among the parents of the scholars was soon 
manifest in an increased interest on the part of both teach- 
ers and scholars, so that on Christmas of 1856 the roll 
showed 150 scholars and twenty-five teachers connected 
with the school. 

The school continued to meet in the district school- 
daily and morally. In 1854 he was prominent in founding the Yonkers 
Library Association and became its first president. He was ordained and 
installed ruling elder of Westminster Church, January 2, 1859, which place 
he held until September 25, 1884, when he became a member of the 
Broadway Tabernacle Church, New York, of which Rev. Dr. Taylor is 
pastor. 

Mr. Rich was kind in deportment and cheerful in temperament, and 
his consistent Christian example rendered his residence in Yonkers a 
continual agency for good. In his private and public life he was con- 
siderate and unselfish, generous and noble hearted, a man whose friend- 
ship was an honor, whose companionship was always an enjoyment, and 
there are not a few who will cherish his name in loving remembrance. 

On the evening of January 12, 1886, he joined Baxter, Davidson, and 
Nairn, the departed office-bearers of this church, who with the " elders 
round about the throne " sing the new song : " Worthy is the Lamb that 
was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and 
honor and glory and blessing." On his departure the session of West« 
minster Church adopted resolutions expressive of their loss, which were 
entered upon the records of the church. 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 285 

house until April 5, 1857, when it was removed to the 
Getty Lyceum. After the removal, Archibald Baxter, 
William Steedman, A. O. Kirkwood, Mrs. Duncan C. 
Ralston, Miss Jennie Underwood (now Mrs. John Mor- 
rison), Miss Mary Lapham (now Mrs. M. E. Saunders), 
and others whose names cannot now be recalled, became 
teachers. 

On Sunday evening, April 26, 1857, preaching was 
commenced, the Rev. Victor M. Hulbert (now Rev. Dr. 
Hulbert) officiating. The attendance was about fifty. On 
the 1 8th of October in the same year, upon the invitation 
of the teachers and the advice of the Presbytery, Mr. Saw- 
yer became the stated supply and preached regularly each 
Sunday. The attendance of the school at this date aver- 
aged 300 scholars. 

On Thursday evening, July 16, 1857, a weekly prayer- 
meeting was begun at the house of John Fisher, on Brook 
Street, twenty-seven persons being present. This meeting 
was attended by many of the scholars and some of the 
teachers of the school. The attendance at the prayer- 
meeting increased so rapidly that the place of meeting 
was changed to Grant's Hall, a room in the then skin fac- 
tory, near the corner of Mechanic Street (now New Main 
Street), and Nepperhan Avenue. The attendance at this 
meeting was from eighty to 100 every Thursday evening. 
At Christmas, 1857, there were 287 scholars and thirty- 
seven teachers present, and the name was then changed to 
the First Mission Sabbath-school, Yonkers. 

In April, 1859,* the Sunday-school was removed from 
the Getty House to the new church building, or chapel as 

* In 1859-60 a Sunday-school was opened by William F. Lee, who 
was a much beloved teacher in the Westminster Sunday-school, and who, 
after his removal from Yonkers, became the president of the Young Men's 
Christian Association in New York City. This school was held in a room 
in the nine buildings opposite the old pistol factory near Vark Street. 
He was assisted by Messrs. Charles R. Otis, Alexander O. Kirkwood, and 
Ebenezer Curtice. After occupying that building for several months this 
school was removed to Teutonia Hall, near Brook Street. Among the 
interesting and profitable exercises of this little school was the singing 
of Scriptural verses arranged by the teachers. It numbered about fifty 
pupils and was continued a little over a year. Mr. Lee passed to his 
heavenly reward in 1888. 



286 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

it was called, on Warburton Avenue. Archibald Baxter 
was the superintendent at that date. The school continued 
to increase in numbers and interest and quite a number 
from it were added to the church on profession of their 
faith. 

The Sunday-school in the years of 1861-62 was in an 
unusually prosperous condition. At that time there was a 
large number of adult classes, either of young men or 
young ladies, among the teachers of which are recalled 
Mrs. E. P. Underwood, Josiah Rich, James E. Goddard, 
Miss Jennie Underwood (now Mrs. John Morrison), and 
Miss Margaret Bloomer, the latter of whom had a class of 
young ladies. Her plain, practical instruction, her sound 
Scriptural teachings, having a " Thus saith the Lord" for 
every statement, is well remembered by the writer, who 
was a member of her class. Miss Bloomer subsequently 
became a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and 
was largely instrumental in the formation of the Ladies' 
Missionary Society of that church, being elected its first 
president. 

The pastor's wife, Mrs. A. P. Carter, had a class of 
young ladies, most of whom were her former pupils in 
Public School No. 6, of which she was the first lady prin- 
cipal, in 1861 (then Miss Alantha P. Pratt). Mrs. Carter's 
emphatic teachings in regard to the pleasantness and joy- 
ousness of the Christian life are well remembered by the 
writer, who was privileged to be under her instruction. 
Mrs. Carter was in her Christian life a living epistle of 
the reality and power of the religion of Jesus Christ. She 
always let her light shine, and never from any motive or 
any reason concealed it. She was eminently successful in 
winning the confidence and love of her scholars. Amid 
the cares and responsibilities incident to her position as 
principal of her day-school department, she ever preserved 
a calmness which was unruffled, and possessed a peace which 
was undisturbed. Her calm face, both in the Sunday and 
day school, seemed to speak the words, " In patience pos- 
sess ye your souls," and " Thou shalt keep him in perfect 
peace whose mind is stayed on Thee." 

In a letter received from her occurs this paragraph : 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 287 

"There is no service so noble as the service of our Saviour, 
there is no choice so blessed as the Christian's choice, there 
is no hope so glorious as that which renders bright the 
darkest day, there is no peace so abiding as that which God 
gives his loved ones." Her utterances in the weekly 
prayer-meeting, which she formed for the benefit of her 
Sunday-school scholars and the young members of her 
husband's congregation, are recalled as being especially 
helpful, encouraging, and comforting. And her prayers, 
which were characterized by earnestness, simplicity, and 
directness, showed that she walked in intimate communion 
with her Father in heaven. And her sweet voice, as she 
led in the songs of praise and thanksgiving, was an inspira- 
tion to all who heard it. In general it may be truly said 
that her character was one of beauty and strength most 
happily blended, most remarkably developed. 

She ever kept her eye on her high calling and ran the 
race, and could not stop to walk or look back. Her Lord 
gave her the five talents and she did not hide one of them. 
"And so he that had received five talents came and brought 
other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me 
five talents : behold, I have gained beside them five talents 
more. His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and 
faithful servant : thou hast been faithful over a few things, 
I will make thee ruler over many things : enter thou into 
the joy of thy Lord." Those words of welcome came to 
her as she passed from her earthly life from the manse at 
Huntington, L. L, October 7, 1874, and entered the heav- 
enly life " to be for ever with the Lord." 

The pastor, Rev. Samuel T. Carter, started a weekly 
Bible-class of young ladies in April, 1865, which was held 
at his residence in Glenwood on Friday afternoons. These 
gatherings were a source of much pleasure and profit to all 
who attended. The pastor's father, Robert Carter, was 
occasionally present, and added a few words of counsel and 
encouragement. On one occasion, in the course of his 
remarks on Bible study, he said, "Young ladies, you have 
here a rich mine ; be sure you get all the ingots." 

Rev. Mr. Carter's teaching, as was his preaching, was 
characterized by great simplicity and earnestness. The 



288 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

constant reiteration of proving all things by the Word of 
God and " comparing spiritual things with spiritual," was a 
marked feature of his instructions, as he led his scholars in 
the study of the Word, " bringing things new and old " 
from the exhaustless treasury of Scripture knowledge, ex- 
amining and unfolding each verse in its textual, contextual, 
and Scriptural status, first getting the sense, then in a clear 
and concise manner making them to see the truth with 
vividness and force, so that they left the class each week 
with a distinct and positive addition to their Scriptural 
knowledge, thus furnishing them with strength - giving 
food, so that they were prepared and the better fitted to 
fulfil their mission. The members of the class were devo- 
tedly attached to him and still warmly cherish his memory. 

Special preparations were made by the Sunday-school 
for their Christmas festivals. The music and words of the 
carols were always new, being composed and arranged for 
several years by musical composers in New York city, Mrs. 
M. E. Sangster and Miss Fanny Crosby, the blind poetess, 
being among the writers of the words of the carols sung on 
several occasions. The refreshments at these festivals were 
given in abundant measure. The fruit, nuts, and cake were 
entirely supplied for the whole school for many successive 
years by Josiah Rich and John Davidson. 

The eleventh Christmas festival was held in the assem- 
bly hall of School No. 6 on Christmas day, 1866. The hall 
was densely crowded by the friends and teachers of the 
school. The exercises commenced by the children — 481 in 
number — singing a very pretty hymn entitled " Good Will 
and Peace to Men " written, as were also three other hymns 
for this meeting, by Miss Fanny Crosby. After the sing- 
ing, the pastor, Rev. Samuel T. Carter, offered prayer, 
which was followed by the reading of the Scriptures and 
the singing of another carol. 

The superintendent, Henry A. Underwood, read his 
report, which reflected great credit on the thirty-seven 
teachers, who were most efficient and faithful in their work. 
A very pleasant address by Robert Carter, father of the 
pastor, followed. Christmas Carol No. 4 was sung. A brief 
address was made by the pastor, who returned his thanks 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 289 

for the beautiful presents he had received from his congre- 
gation. 

Then came the distribution of the gifts to the scholars, 
who each received a handsome book, and cake, fruit, and 
confectionery in abundance. Edward Fuller, on behalf of 
the school, presented the superintendent with a beautiful 
illustrated copy of Bunyan's " Pilgrim's Progress." The 
musical part of the exercises was under the supervision of 
William B. Taylor, the chorister of the church. These 
pleasant exercises closed with singing and the benediction. 

The following statistics of the Sunday-school are taken 
from a printed annual report of the school of January, 
1867: 

" The superintendent's report (H. A. Underwood) 
shows the total number of scholars 481. Of this number 
263 meet in the Westminster Church, and the remaining 
number — 218 — attend the infant-class room on Broadway, 
between Wells Avenue and Dock Street, under the able 
and very efficient management of Mrs. E. Curtice and 
Mrs. James E. Goddard. The number of teachers and offi- 
cers connected with the school at this date is thirty-seven, 
with an average attendance of thirty. The average attend- 
ance of pupils is 254." 

The treasurer reports the sum of $289 collected for 
missionary purposes, and $1,200 paid for the expenses of 
the school during the past year. The library contains 600 
volumes, and has, under the care of the librarian, Duncan 
C. Ralston, attained an unusual degree of perfection, both 
in the condition of the books and the system of circula- 
tion. 

Henry A. Underwood, to whom the school owes much 
for his unceasing labors in its behalf, was unanimously re- 
elected Superintendent ; for Assistant Superintendent John 
Morrison was also reelected. Edward S. Sumner was cho- 
sen Secretary, Robert Reeves was elected Librarian in place 
of Duncan C. Ralston, who resigned, and George A. Arrow- 
smith, Assistant Librarian. William B. Taylor, under 
whose management the singing has been conducted and 
which has attained to a rare degree of excellence, continued 
to lead the singing for the coming year. 

Sunday-school Work. IQ 



29O CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The church building is no longer large enough to ac- 
commodate the increasing number of scholars. 

The report of the superintendent, H. A. Underwood, 
showed the following statistics of the school Christmas, 
1867 : Number of teachers, 39 ; number of pupils, 521 ; 40 
more than the preceding year. 

For the Christmas festival of 1869 four of the carols 
were composed by the following teachers in the school, 
Mrs. E. Curtice, Miss M. Mason, Miss Anna W. Kirkwood, 
and Rev. Lewis W. Mudge, the latter of whom arranged 
the music for that and for other festivals and anniversaries 
for a number of years. 

Rev. Lewis W. Mudge, immediately on assuming the 
pastorate of the church in August, 1867, established a 
young men's Bible-class. With the growth of the school 
young women were admitted, and it was taken to the gal- 
lery in the old church. The membership of this class at 
one time was forty-four. Mr. Mudge retained the class some 
months after he was made superintendent, in December, 
1868, at a meeting of the teachers, and by the advice of the 
session of the church remained both teacher and superin- 
tendent until May, 1877, when he received a call from the 
Second Presbyterian Church of Princeton, N. J., which he 
accepted. 

Before the advent of lesson-leaves Mr. Mudge prepared 
regularly a series of questions on the " History of Israel 
from the Birth of Moses to the Settlement in Canaan." 
These lessons were printed and ran through two years, be- 
ginning in 1868. They were finely illustrated by large col- 
ored crayon pictures, which were drawn by Joseph M. 
Alvord with truly artistic skill. The pictures in size and 
finish were similar to the " Bible Lesson Pictures " which 
were extensively used and are so popular in the primary 
department of the Sunday-schools of to-day. Mr. Alvord, 
by these pictures, rendered valuable service to the school, 
as he also did in his efficient work as secretary. 

Rev. Mr. Mudge was appointed superintendent of the 
Superintendents' Normal Class in New York, in February, 
1876. His resignation of the superintendency, consequent 
upon his call to Princeton, was a matter of " sincere regret 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 29I 

not only to the church but to the Sunday-school which he 
had so lovingly and faithfully served as their superintend- 
ent during the greater part of his ministry, and to every 
member of which he had endeared himself by qualities of 
mind and heart rare and shining." 

Anson D. F. Randolph succeeded Mr. Mudge as teach- 
er of the large Bible-class in the gallery in 1872, and re- 
tained it until his removal from Yonkers. He prepared a 
series ( of lessons, especially for this class, on the English 
Bible, which were of exceeding interest and were greatly 
enjoyed by the members of the class. His genial and lov- 
ing disposition, his intense earnestness, and his fidelity to 
the work set before him, made him eminently successful in 
winning the affection and confidence of the members of his 
class. 

The following incident referring to this esteemed 
teacher is taken from an article entitled " Sunday-school 
Work a means of Culture," in the " Evangelist," May 1, 
1879, under the signature of A. W. Kirkwood : " Two old 
schoolmates, middle-aged men, met upon an anniversary oc- 
casion of a charitable institution. Full of interest in his 
subject and in sympathy with the work, one of them made 
an address, finished, eloquent, and effective. The friend 
listened with pleasure and surprise, and at its close said, 
' A , I did not know you could make such a good speech/ 

" ' Do you know why I can make a speech and you 
can't ? Because I stayed in the Sunday-school and you 
cleared out.' 

"The rejoinder, though uttered in a joke as the two 
friends grasped hands warmly, contained more than a grain 
of sense. 

" One cannot handle year after year the grand and 
wonderful doctrines of the Bible, become familiar with its 
glowing imagery and its simple and beautiful stories, with- 
out a widening and growing development of mind which 
will naturally brighten and beautify one's style and give 
ease and grace in discourse upon all other subjects and 
questions. 

" As a student with no particular sense of responsibil- 
ity, one is often dull to learn and slow to grasp even the 



292 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

outline of a subject, but in the effort to make another see 
clearly one's own ideas become better defined. 

' Thoughts disentangle passing o'er the lip.' 

In seeking to unfold a subject in its length and breadth, 
and to bring out its important points, one's mind becomes, 
gradually it may be, but surely, a well-ordered storehouse 
instead of a heterogeneous mass of rubbish." 

John H. Brown also had a large and interesting class of 
young ladies at this time, numbering over twenty. 

Rev. Mr. Mudge, in his historical discourse of the 
Westminster Church, delivered in the centennial year, 1876, 
mentions the Sunday-school as follows : 

" As this church grew from this most useful church 
agency, so it has always commanded its special attention, 
and in turn has constantly received from it large accessions. 
The school has always been large for the church and com- 
munity. Its most prosperous years, judging by statistics, 
were the four years from 1868 to 1871, in each of which the 
aggregate of teachers and scholars was over 500. In 1869 
the report records 528, and one Sunday in that year 498 
scholars and teachers were present. These years are the 
second to fifth of the present pastorate. Since 1871 the 
school has gradually declined in numbers, owing mainly to 
the establishment of new schools — there having been no 
less than five new enterprises started since that year in the 
district from which our scholars have largely been gath- 
ered. During the prosperous years we had also the con- 
stant and efficient efforts of a Bible-reader. The last report 
of the school gives the number enrolled for the year at 

399-" 

The membership of the Sunday-school has increased 
since the above mentioned report in July, 1876, as is shown 
by the following figures taken from the statistical report 
presented by the Westminster Presbyterian Church to the 
Westchester Presbytery for the year ending April, 1884: 
1864,310; 1865,325; 1866,300; 1867,481; 1868,521; 1869, 
528; 1870, 512; 1871, 501; 1872,498; 1873,490; 1874,489; 
1875,450; 1876,389; 1877,393; 1878,345; 1879,381; 1880, 
474; 1881,390; 1882,417; 1883,509; 1884,508. 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 293 

The following is taken from a printed report of the 
school in the centennial year, April 1, 1876: 

" The Westminster Presbyterian Sunday-school in Yon- 
kers is one of the most flourishing and ably conducted Sun- 
day-schools of that city. The attendance is uniformly large 
and the children pay the closest attention to the explana- 
tions of the lessons given by their teachers. 

" The following statistical information speaks for itself 
and reflects great credit on its superintendent, Rev. L. W. 
Mudge, who is devoted to his charge and never so happy as 
when doing something for the children, and upon the devo- 
ted band of teachers who take so much pleasure in leading 
the children to Him who said, ' Suffer little children to 
come unto me.' 

"The report is as follows: Officers, 6; teachers, 31; 
scholars on register, 399 ; number in infant class, 73 ; uni- 
ted with the church, 6; volumes in library, 800; receipts, 
$240 53; expenditures, $133 50. 

" The officers of the school are : Rev. L. W. Mudge, Su- 
perintendent ; John H. Brown, Assistant Superintendent ; 
Miss Josie Sanders, infant class Superintendent ; J. J. Beck, 
Secretary; John Hargraves, Treasurer; Edward Newton 
Brown, Librarian ; William P. Constable, Assistant Libra- 
rian. The teachers are: Miss L. M. Fuller, Mrs. O. A. 
Benedict, Miss Jennie Scotland, Miss Agnes E. Kirkwood, 
Miss Augusta Cruikshank, Miss Anna W. Kirkwood, Miss 
Grace Randolph, Miss Louise J. Kirkwood, Miss Sarah J. 
Brown, Miss May Williams, Mrs. Frederick Lorenz, Miss 
Sarah Kennedy, Miss Amelia Cutbill, Mrs. E. A. Houston, 
Mrs. E. Johnson, Rev. L. W. Mudge, Messrs. A. D. F. Ran- 
dolph, John H. Brown, Ralph E. Prime, Charles R. Otis, 
Alexander O. Kirkwood, Josiah Rich, William R. Kirkwood, 
Alanson J. Prime, James Biggerstaff , Augustus Cruikshank, 
J. M. Alvord, O. A. Benedict, and A. Taylor." 

The Young People's Association for Christian Work, 
connected with the Westminster Presbyterian Church and 
Sunday-school, was regularly organized in 1867 by Rev. 
Lewis W. Mudge, the second pastor of the church. A few 
months previous to the above mentioned date the young 
men of the church were accustomed to meet irregularly in 



294 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

the gallery of the church. In June, 1867, the young people 
of the church, including young men and women, were or- 
ganized into a society with the above name. Rev. Mr. 
Mudge took a very deep interest in its welfare, and was 
most efficient and successful in advancing its interests in 
every department. At the close of 1 867 the Association had 
a membership of 112. 

In December, 1886, and following the Week of Prayer 
in January, 1887, the church and Sunday-school were richly 
blessed in " the time of refreshing from the presence of the 
Most High," and the longings and prayers for the salvation 
of souls by the members of the Association found practical 
expression and personal work, and not a few from the Sun- 
day-school were through their instrumentality brought into 
the church. 

In June, 1868, the Association met with a severe blow 
in the sudden removal of one of its chief pillars of strength, 
George A. Arrowsmith, a noble, true, and earnest Christian 
young man, who had not only endeared himself to the 
members of the Association, but to all who knew him. His 
funeral services were held at the church and were largely 
attended by the members thereof, and of the Sunday-school 
and Association, the pastor, Rev. L. W. Mudge, officiating. 

At a meeting of the Young People's Association of the 
Westminster Church, held Tuesday evening, June 30, 1868, 
the following resolutions were unanimously passed : 

Whereas, God in his all-wise providence has seen fit to 
remove from our number, by death, our esteemed brother 
member, George A. Arrowsmith : 

Resolved, That we deeply feel our loss, as well from our 
love for him as that by his decease our society is deprived 
of one of its most valuable members, whose counsel and ac- 
tive interest it has enjoyed since its organization. 

Resolved, That we do sincerely sympathize with his be- 
reaved parents in their great loss, and heartily rejoice that 
notwithstanding the deep affliction they have experienced 
in his loss, they have the assurance that he was a servant of 
God and that he has been delivered from the evils of this 
world to enjoy henceforth the blessedness of the redeemed 
in heaven. 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 295 

Resolved, That in the sudden and unexpected death of 
our brother we feel the solemn warning, " Be ye also ready, 
for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh," 
come to us with renewed earnestness, and we trust it will 
not be unheeded ; so that our ranks, though they are broken 
here, it will only be that in the world to come we may unite 
in bonds that can never be sundered. 

Resolved, That copies of these resolutions be sent to the 
family of the deceased, published in the local papers, and 
entered upon the permanent records of the Association. 

By order of the Board of Managers, 

E. S. Sumner, President. 

Walter H. Underwood, Secretary. 

The twenty-first anniversary of the Association was held 
June 5, 1888, in the lecture-room of the church. Frank B. 
Hickey, President, presided. The exercises were opened 
by singing, after which the Scriptures were read by Frank 
J. Esser, of the Baptist Young People's Association, fol- 
lowed by prayer by William Smith, of the Dayspring 
Association, and singing by a double quartette com- 
posed of Messrs. Thomas, Nicoll, Howorth, and Craft, and 
Mrs. John A. Dow, Mrs. J. W. Goodale, Miss Josie Sanders, 
and Miss Minnie Mott. The reports of the committees fol- 
lowed. 

After the reports of the committees, the President, 
Frank B. Hickey, addressed the Association, and was fol- 
lowed by a pleasing and encouraging address by Rev. Dr. 
Prime, Iris subject being " Desire." 

The interesting exercises closed by the quartette sing- 
ing, " The King of Love my Shepherd is." 

The officers of the association in 1888 were Frank B. 
Hickey, President ; Walter Thomas, Vice-President ; Rob- 
ert Ogilvie Kirkwood, Recording Secretary ; Walter Tal- 
madge, Corresponding Secretary ; Miss Agnes McMahon, 
Treasurer. 

The Association celebrated its twenty-third anniversary 
on Tuesday evening, June 3, 1890. The pulpit was taste- 
fully decorated with daisies, ferns, and other wild flowers. 
In front of the desk was a beautiful pillar of daisies and 
ferns. Over the pulpit were the figures 1 867 — the year in 



296 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

which the Association was organized. Robert O. Kirkwood, 
the President, presided. 

The services were opened by the singing of the hymn, 
" Holy, Holy, Holy," after which Rev. Charles E. Allison, 
of Dayspring Church, offered prayer. The President then 
read the 103d Psalm. 

The various committees presented their reports, which 
show very gratifying results during the past year. 

The Lookout Committee, the Visiting Committee, 
the Religious Work Committee, the Social Committee, and 
the Missionary Committee are the several committees of 
the Society. 

The chairman of the Lookout Committee reported 36 
new members had joined the Association, 16 active and 
20 associate. 

The Missionary Committee — Mrs. William P. Con- 
stable, Chairman — had furnished four speakers on mis- 
sions, and the sum of §106 06 had been given for mission 
work. 

William P. Constable, the Secretary, reported that 47 
prayer-meetings were held, with a total attendance of 4,335 ; 
average, 85 ; the attendance during the last five months 
will average over 100. The report of the Treasurer, Miss 
Ida Bell, showed a balance on hand, June 4, 1889, of $10 90; 
dues, $47 90; disbursements, $47 75 ; balance, June 3, 1890, 
$11 05. 

The President, Robert O. Kirkwood, reviewed the 
work of the year, and congratulated the Association on the 
result of its labors, after which he introduced Rev. Dr. 
L. W. Mudge as the founder of the Association. Dr. 
Mudge said in part : 

" I take no honor to myself for the founding of this 
Association ; it was through no wisdom or sagacity on my 
part that it was formed. It was born during a revival ; it 
was a necessity. Necessity is the mother of invention. It 
was from the Philadelphian Society of Princeton that I 
first conceived the idea of this Society. While I do not 
claim that this was the first Young People's Association in 
the country, I think it is the oldest organization of its kind 
in the United States. 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 297 

" Societies of young people were, no doubt, in existence 
for purely social objects. Other societies were formed for 
occasional prayer-meetings, but this Association was the 
first permanent one of which I have any knowledge. On 
February 4, 1868, a number of the young people of this 
church met and organized into a permanent organization, 
although the Association was really in existence for one 
year previous ; and you have continued to grow and now 
you are celebrating the twenty -third anniversary. 

" Remember what Paul said to Timothy : ' Let no man 
despise thy youth.' The hope of the church is in its 
young people. Consecrated youth has always been in 
favor with God. From the time of Paul down to the pres- 
ent day consecrated youth has taken an important part in 
the work of the church. The reports of the last year are 
the best I have heard from your Association for any year 
previous. May God's blessing rest upon your work in the 
future." 

Rev. P. S. Allen, of Saratoga, followed with a short 
address, complimenting the young people of Westminster 
Church on being among the pioneers in such organizations, 
and expressing his appreciation of the work of Young Peo- 
ple's Associations and Societies of Christian Endeavor 
throughout the world. 

The hymn beginning " Now the day is over " was 
sung, and Dr. Mudge pronounced the benediction. 

A weekly prayer-meeting of the Association is held 
every Tuesday evening in the lecture-room of the church 
at 8 o'clock, and once in three months the meeting is de- 
voted to the subject of missions and missionary work. 
Usually the meeting is addressed by those who are en- 
gaged in mission work, and not un frequently the presence 
of a missionary, either from the home or foreign field, is 
secured. 

The Association at this writing, November, 1890, 
maintains the largest young people's prayer-meeting. Its 
membership is one hundred and fifty. 

Officers of the Young People's Society for 1891 : Presi- 
dent, Louis W. Archer ; Vice-President, William P. Hickey ; 
Secretary, Allan S. Kirkwoodj Treasurer, Mrs. J. R. Mc- 



298 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

William. Chairmen of Committees : Lookout, Frank B. 
Hickey ; Devotional, James H. Jackson ; Visiting, Miss 
Ida Jewell ; Missionary, Mrs. Edward Clark ; Social, Mrs. 
Walter Thomas. The officers and chairmen constitute the 
Board of Managers. 

The twenty-fifth anniversary of the Sunday-school was 
held in the old church building on September 16, 1880. 
Rev. John Dixon, the pastor, conducted the exercises. A 
number of papers recalling early incidents of the school 
were read. Those who took part in the exercises were 
Mr. Archibald Baxter, a former superintendent of the 
school, Alexander O. Kirkwood, and others whose names 
cannot now be recalled. 

The mission band connected with the Westminster 
Church and Sunday-school was organized by Miss Agnes 
E. Kirkwood. A meeting for the purpose of perfecting 
the organization was held on Wednesday afternoon, No- 
vember 16, 1 88 1, in the chapel of the church, under the 
conduct of the pastor, Rev. John Dixon. Charles R. Otis, 
Superintendent of the Sunday-school, Mrs. Stanton Cady, 
of Sing Sing, and Mrs. E. Curtice, of Yonkers, took part. 
A letter was read from Mrs. A. F. Decker, of the War- 
burton Avenue Baptist Church, who was expected to have 
addressed the meeting, expressing her regret for her ab- 
sence on account of illness, and of her warm interest and 
sympathy in the object of the meeting. 

The officers and committees, which had previously 
been chosen, were : Miss Agnes E. Kirkwood, President ; 
Miss May Alvord, Vice-President ; Robert O. Kirkwood, 
Secretary ; Kate Prime, Corresponding Secretary ; Edith 
Beck, Treasurer ; Lizzie Hoar, Alice Christie, May Bigger- 
staff, Alice Smith, Earl Prime, and William C. Prime, 
Chairmen of Committees. 

Meetings of the band were held monthly in the 
chapel of the church, and the earnest desire and effort of 
the officers was not so much to raise a large amount of 
money, but to endeavor to interest and inform the chil- 
dren in the progress of missions at home and abroad, to 
advise them of the work which was being done by the 
mission Boards of the Presbyterian Church and of the state 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 299 

of the treasury of these Boards, and to train them to give 
intelligently and in effective methods of carrying on mis- 
sion work. 

The first anniversary of the band was held in the 
chapel, November 13, 1882. Letters of congratulation to 
the band were read from the former pastors of the church, 
viz., Rev. Samuel T. Carter, Rev. Dr. Sawyer, and Rev. 
Dr. Mudge. 

The secretary's report, by Robert O. Kirkwood, and the 
treasurer's report, by Miss May Alvord, were read. The 
treasurer reported receipts of $25 50; expenditures, $25. 

Recitations followed by Miss Emma Hoar, Miss Em- 
ma Menzer, Harold Thomas, and Fred Coon, a recent 
Chinese convert, and singing of missionary hymns, and 
benediction by the pastor, Rev. John Dixon. 

The second anniversary was held in the chapel on 
Tuesday afternoon, November 13, 1883, when they were 
entertained by the Rev. John Dixon, the pastor, Mrs. New- 
ton, a returned missionary from India, Myron T. Scudder, 
and others. 

The band sent a beautiful Scripture quilt to a Bible- 
reader in India who is supported by the Ladies' Missionary 
Association of the church. Upon this quilt were written 
the names of the officers of the band and the Scripture 
text, " God so loved the world that he gave his only-begot- 
ten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, 
but have everlasting life, " John 3: 16; also the names of 
the former pastors of the church and their wives, with the 
text, " Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to 
every creature," Mark 16:15; also the names of the officers 
of the Woman's Missionary Society of the church and the 
names of the officers of the Sunday-school, with Scripture 
texts. 

The amount raised by the band during the year was 
$28 50. They had also sent leaflets and papers to an 
Indian mission in the western part of New York State. 
The membership of the band was then sixty. The ages of 
the boys and girls who composed it were from three to 
twelve. The pastor's little daughter, Marion Dixon, three 
years old, was the youngest member. 



300 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

After the president's resignation in November, 1883, 
the attendance was quite irregular, and it was disbanded 
for several months. It was reorganized by Mrs. Ebenezer 
Curtice, October, 1886, who was assisted by Miss Josie San- 
ders, and they had the charge of it until March, 1887, when 
these officers were elected : Miss G. Hicks, President ; Miss 
E. L. Smith, first Vice-President ; Miss Eva Mackrell, sec- 
ond Vice-President ; Miss G. Stone, Secretary ; Miss E. 
Hoar, Treasurer. 

Meetings were held every week on Tuesday after- 
noons until June. The exercises at these meetings con- 
sisted of singing, repeating the Lord's Prayer in concert, 
and a missionary story on the country assigned for the 
month. The children worked also for a fair which was 
held on the afternoon and evening of June 7, 1887. The 
proceeds of this fair were $46, $36 of which was donated to 
the building of a new schoolhouse for Miss Allison in 
Santa Fe, New Mexico, and $10 to local work. The aver- 
age attendance at this date was fifty and the enrol- 
ment 141. 

In January, 1888, mite boxes were given to the band 
with the request that all the money which they earned 
which they wished to give for mission purposes be put in 
them. The sum of $8 50 was realized by this plan. 

In March, 1888, an entertainment was given by the 
band called " Little Missionaries," which was a great suc- 
cess in every way. Charles R. Otis presided, Miss Lizzie 
Biggerstaff was the organist, and the pastor, Rev. E. C. 
Moore, Adelaide Nichols, Sarah Fleming, Emily Kipp, 
Minna Smith, Harold Thomas, Harold Danforth, Grace 
Chapman, Nettie Logan, Emma Carson, Howard Austin, 
John Fleming, and others took part. The proceeds of this- 
entertainment were $150, which was donated to the follow- 
ing objects : $50 to the Board of Foreign Missions and $50 
to the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church, 
and $50 to Miss Allison, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

The officers at the time were : Miss Georgiana Hicks, 
President ; Miss Adelia Nichols, Vice-President ; Miss Em- 
ma Hoar, Secretary ; Miss Ida Jewell, Treasurer. And 
their assistants were Miss Josie Sanders, Miss Davidson, 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 301 

Miss Eva Mackrell, Miss Susie Biggerstaff, Mrs. Frank 
Hickey, and Miss Nettie Moir. The membership was 145. 

The present work of the band is the preparing of a 
box of clothing for Esteer Hadad and her family, a Bible- 
reader in Syria, who was educated in Rev. Dr. Bird's 
school in Sukit Ghrub, ten miles south of Beirut, Syria. 

The officers of the band January, 1890, were: Miss 
Georgiana Hicks, President, Miss A. A. Nichols, Vice- 
President ; Miss Sadie Carson, Corresponding Secretary ; 
Miss Ida Jewell, Recording Secretary ; Miss Lulu Reed, 
Treasurer. 

From the report of the pastor, Rev. John Dixon, to 
the Presbytery of Westchester, for the year ending April 1, 
1880, these statistics of the Westminster Sunday-school are 
gleaned : Officers and teachers, 40 ; adult scholars, 80 ; 
youths and children, 354; total membership, 474 ; number 
uniting with the church, 19 ; missionary offerings, $85 ; 
other benevolence, $213; expenses of the school, $69. 

On Sunday, July 24, 1881, the Sunday-school met for 
the last time in the old church building, at 2 p. M. After 
singing and brief remarks by several of the teachers, and 
prayer by the pastor, Rev. John Dixon, the members of 
the school marched to the chapel of the new church edifice 
over the way, singing as they went. 

Addresses in the chapel were made by Rev. Dr. Ken- 
yon, Rev. John Dixon, and the superintendent, Charles R. 
Otis. The secretary gave a report of the school, the mem- 
bership of which was 390, at that date the largest school in 
the Westchester Presbytery, in which there were forty- 
three churches. 

Officers of the school, September, 1882, were: Charles 
R. Otis, Superintendent ; Walter Thomas, Assistant-Super- 
intendent; J. Sproull, second Assistant - Superintendent ; 
Hiram S. Wiggins, Secretary ; J. W. Goodale, Treasurer ; 
Norton P. Otis, Librarian. 

In consequence of the burning of the church chapel, 
February 28, 1886, the Sunday-school met in the hall of the 
Woman's Christian Temperance Union on the following 
Sunday, March 7, and occupied that hall until June 20 of 
the same year. During the interim between the burning 



302 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

and restoration of the chapel the teachers and scholars of 
the school continued wonderfully faithful in their attend- 
ance and in their contributions to benevolent objects, thus 
proving their love for the school. 

The Constant Workers, a class of boys of this school, 
besides giving to the regular collections, contributed to the 
Cot of the Ministering Children in St. John's Riverside 
Hospital and to other benevolent objects, making a total of 

$175 5o. 

The following extract is from a letter received from 
Rev. Henry M. Scudder, D. D., who was formerly a mis- 
sionary in India and one of the founders of the Arcot 
Mission, in acknowledgment for money received from this 
class for a mission school in California : 

"San Francisco, August 20, 1867. 
" To the Constant Workers : 

" My dear young Friends : — I received the very kind 

letter from your dear teacher with the inclosure. I sent 

the whole amount to a lady named Miss Cary, who lives 

in Solano County in a place where there is no church and 

no minister and no gentleman capable of conducting a 

Sabbath-school. She is herself the superintendent and 

conducts the work with singular energy and great devoted- 

ness. That little school needs books very much, and I 

thought I could not dispose of your money in any better 

way. Very truly yours, 

"H. M. SCUDDER." 

The lady, Miss Elizabeth D. Cary, to whom Rev. Dr. 
Scudder refers, was permitted to see as the result of her 
labors and of her co-workers' a large and flourishing church 
which was the outgrowth of that little mission school. 

The class took for their motto, " To do good and to 
communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well 
pleased," and the following verse : 

"A fruitful life for man and God 
Eternity will well reward ; 
What 's done for time ends by-and-by, 
What 's done for God can never die." 

It met in the old church building. Only Wm. P. Con- 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 303 

stable, of its original members, is now connected with 
the Sunday - school. This class committed to memory 
six thousand eight hundred and ninety -nine Scripture 
verses. 

Twenty-two of the members of this class became com- 
municants in the Westminster Church and other churches 
in Yonkers. Four have " entered into the rest that remain- 
eth." One is preparing for the ministry ; another became 
a Sunday-school superintendent. H. Beattie Brown, M. D., 
a member of this class, was appointed House Physician in 
St. John's Riverside Hospital, Yonkers, June, 1890. And 
George B. Terrell, another member, was the founder of the 
Chinese department in the First Methodist Sunday-school 
of Yonkers. 

The class taught by Walter Thomas contributed towards 
the education of a pupil in Persia for ten years. 

The class the Royal Workers, order of the King's 
Sons, taught by Miss A. A. Nichols, which began in No- 
vember, 1887, with five young men, now numbers one hun- 
dred with an average attendance of seventy-five, and is the 
largest Bible-class of young men in the city. From this 
class a large number have been received into the commu- 
nion of the church. An effort is now being made by some 
of the members of the class to enlarge their class-room at 
their own expense. 

In 1887 it contributed towards the debt of the church 
$50. And in 1888 to 1889 the contributions amounted to 
$150. 

H. Beattie Brown's class of young ladies supported 
a girl in the Girls' Orphanage in Canton, China, which is 
under the care of Rev. B. C. Henry, D. D., for three years, 
contributing $25 per year. Miss Nettie Brown's (now Mrs. 
B. F. Parliman) class also did the same. Both of these 
classes contributed besides to the benevolent fund of the 
Sunday-school. 

The " Society for Christian Work," composed of young 
ladies taught by Miss Georgiana Hicks, the missionary vis- 
itor of the church, contributed $25 to the Tulsa school, 
Indian Territory, $10 for the Wilson Mission in New York, 
$10 for local charities, and $50 towards the church building 



304 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

fund. The class also donated the proceeds of an entertain- 
ment towards the same object. 

Mrs. E. Curtice was chosen superintendent of the pri- 
mary department of this school in April, 1857, previous to 
which she taught a class of girls. Mrs. Curtice possessed 
gifts which peculiarly fitted her for her work and she was 
very successful in it. She was superintendent of the pri- 
mary department for fourteen years. In 1869 this depart- 
ment numbered nearly two hundred scholars, and at one of 
the anniversaries it had two hundred and fifty in attend- 
ance. The exercises of this department were always a 
prominent feature of the order of exercises and gave great 
pleasure to all who listened to them. The songs sung by 
this department on several of these occasions were com- 
posed by Mrs. Curtice. 

Mrs. Curtice, from a need of rest, resigned her place in 
January, 1871. Her department at this time numbered 
one-third of all the children in the school. The teachers 
of the Sunday-school at her resignation presented her 
with an elaborately engrossed copy of complimentary 
resolutions, the work of J. M. Alvord, Secretary of the 
school. In it were set the photographs of twenty-seven 
teachers. It was in every respect a work worthy of the 
teachers and deserving on the part of Mrs. Curtice's faith- 
fulness. 

For twenty years Mrs. Curtice had charge of the First 
Industrial School connected with the Westminster Church. 
All those years its success was steady and uninterrupted, 
and it left an impress for good on the minds of the girls 
who attended it. Its anniversaries were always occasions 
of public interest, and invariably received extended notice 
in the city papers. 

Mrs. Curtice did not labor alone for Sunday-school 
work. She had a deep and warm interest in foreign and 
home missions, as well as in temperance work, to all of 
which she gave her prayers and help. In all these depart- 
ments of Christian work she was an intelligent, efficient, 
tireless, and cheerful toiler. Mrs. Curtice was also one of 
the secretaries of the Presbyterian Missionary Society of 
the Westchester Presbytery. A few days prior to her sud- 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 305 

den death she addressed the children's mission band of 
Westminster Church. And thus the higher life came to 
her in the full tide of activity on December 16, 1886. Her 
funeral services were conducted by her pastor, Rev. Edward 
C. Moore, at the Westminster Church on Saturday, Decem- 
ber 18. 

In February, 1871, Miss Sarah J. Brown was appointed 
Superintendent of the primary department, and Miss Josie 
Sanders Assistant Superintendent. The department at 
this time met in the hall of the Sons of Temperance on 
North Broadway, there being no room for them in the 
chapel. Miss Josie Sanders succeeded Miss Brown as su- 
perintendent. The class at this time numbered 140. 

In 1885 the department was under the direction of O. 
Benedict and his daughter, and numbered 127 scholars. 
Miss J. Jackson succeeded Mr. Benedict. 

This department is efficiently taught by its present 
superintendent, Mrs. Amelia Walker, has an enrolment of 
eighty and an average attendance of sixty. The Interna- 
tional Lessons are taught, with Scripture verses. The col- 
lections of this department are given towards the general 
fund of the school. Each pupil is furnished with a small 
numbered envelope, which is placed on the teacher's desk 
as the pupils pass to their seats on entering the room. 
The " Little Folks' Paper " is distributed. 

The pastor's report — Rev. Charles P. Fagnani — to the 
Westchester Presbytery for the year ending April 1, 1885, 
shows this record of the school : Number of officers, 7 ; 
number of teachers, 43 ; number of scholars, 506 ; total 
membership, 556; average attendance, 287; number united 
with the church, 6 ; number of volumes in library, 740 ; 
amounts given to the Boards, $251 ; amounts to other be- 
nevolences, $47. 

In September, 1885, the following officers were unani- 
mously elected : Ralph E. Prime, Superintendent ; Charles 
R. Otis, Assistant Superintendent; Miss Amelia Cutbill, 
Treasurer ; Miss Josie Sander, Secretary ; M. W. Newman, 
Librarian ; Messrs. W. P. Hickey and George Fitzsimmons, 
Assistant Librarians. 

Mr. Prime continued to serve as superintendent until 

Sunday-school Work. 20 



306 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

October, 1886, when he resigned, C. R. Otis succeeding 
him. Mr. Prime, in assuming the charge of the school, 
abolished all lesson helps, either by the teachers or scholars, 
during the session of the Sunday-school, requiring every 
teacher and pupil to have their own Bible. This method 
induced increased attention, preparation and study of the 
lesson, both by teachers and scholars. He also inaugurated 
written examinations and reviews of the lessons, asking 
questions from the desk, each pupil being obliged to write 
answers in the class without assistance. By this system of 
examination and reviews the progress and proficiency of 
the scholars in Bible study was ascertained. 

Mr. Prime was assisted in his work by the pastor, Rev. 
Charles P. Fagnani, who was declared by the session of the 
church (ex-officio), superintendent of the Sunday-school. 
Mr. Fagnani took immediate charge of the instruction of 
the teachers in the use of the blackboard in analyzing and 
teaching Scripture lessons. He introduced the use of paper 
and pencil in all the classes, thereby occupying both mind 
and fingers so as to prevent opportunities for amusement. 
There was never such attention of the scholars at any time 
as was obtained by these methods. 

In August, 1885, the hour of session was changed from 
2 P. M. to 9:30 A. M. This change was made after consulta- 
tion with the teachers and members of the session and after 
careful deliberation was unanimously adopted. The object 
of this change was to secure the attendance of non-church- 
going children to a church service. 

The attendance of the children at the morning church 
service was increased for a time by this change, but the 
school decreased considerably in numbers — as shown by the 
report in April, 1887. 

For the Christmas of 1885 the children of the Sunday 
school unanimously agreed to forego their usual presents, 
and bring gifts to be sent to others less fortunate than 
themselves. The result of this determination was that two 
large boxes, filled with toys, confectionery, fruit, groceries, 
and clothing, and two barrels of books, including picture 
papers and Christmas cards, were sent to Rev. Mr. Waugh, 
in Charlotte, N. C, who had charge of a colored church at 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 307 

that place. These gifts were highly appreciated by the re- 
cipients. One little girl — Nellie Thomas — was so enthusi- 
astic in the matter of bringing gifts that she gave her only 
doll, a handsome one and a recent gift to her and which she 
prized highly. 

The pastor's report — Rev. Edward C. Moore — of the 
Sunday-school to the Presbytery of Westchester for the 
year ending April, 1888, shows: Number of officers, 7; 
number of teachers, 30 ; number of scholars, 332 ; total, 369 ; 
average attendance of scholars, 213; average attendance of 
scholars at church, 87. 

The Sunday-school contributed for benevolent purposes 
from January, 1887, to November, 1888, $404 64. 

From October, 1886, to December, 1888, sixty-one of 
the members of the Sunday-school were admitted to the 
communion of the church on profession of faith. 

In September, 1887, the superintendent and the 
children of the Sunday-school assumed the expense of 
the education of Dora Chatterjee, in the Woodstock 
Seminary, India. Her course of study will comprise six 
years. 

The Sunday-school has also a circle of " King's Sons " 
and several circles of " King's Daughters." The King's 
Sons, " Royal Workers ;" the King's Daughters, the " Right- 
hand Circle ;" the " Obedient Circle," motto : " For me to 
live is Christ ;" the " Good Shepherd Circle," the " Reap- 
ing Circle ;" and the " Whatsoever Circle." 

This school, in company with the Reformed Church, 
First Methodist, and Central Methodist Sunday-schools, 
went on their annual excursion in August, 1888. The 
steamboat " Cygnus " took them to Hazzleton Grove, Long 
Island, about four hours' sail from Yonkers. There were 
about nineteen hundred persons on this excursion. 

The Christmas festival of 1888 was of an unusually 
entertaining character. Departing from the usual custom 
of singing of carols and addresses, the children interested 
their friends with a pleasing cantata entitled " Santa Claus' 
Home; or, the Christmas Excursion," the words of which 
were by Miss Fanny Crosby, and the music and dialogue 
by W. Howard Doane. The exercises were held in the 



308 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

church, which was crowded with an appreciative audience. 
The school marched into the church from the chapel keep- 
ing step to a lively march which was played on the organ 
by Miss L. Biggerstaff. 

The exercises began by singing the doxology, which 
was followed by Scripture reading of Psalm 145, " I will 
extol thee, my God, O King," by Superintendent Charles 
R. Otis, and prayer by Elder McKim, after which the excel- 
lent programme prepared for the occasion was gone through 
with in good style. 

At the close of the entertainment there was the pre- 
sentation of a number of gifts by classes to their teachers. 
Miss A. A. Nichols was presented with Rev. Dr. F. C. 
Cook's Commentary, in ten volumes, handsomely bound, 
from her class of young men, Walter Thomas received a 
fine etching, Miss G. Hicks a gold pencil, Frank Hickey a 
handsome inkstand. A gift worthy of note was the pre- 
sentation of twelve dollars towards the debt on the church 
by Col. Womersley's class. It is also pleasant to record in 
connection with this gift that there are others " who are 
working in the shade," who, by repeated acts of self-denial 
and self-sacrifice, known only to a few, are contributing 
towards this same object, thereby proving their devotion 
and love for this church. 

At the close of the exercises the school, to the number 
of 420, adjourned to the chapel and each scholar received 
a paper bag containing fruits, nuts, and confectionery, the 
boys of the infant class getting in addition humming 
tops, and the little girls dolls. And thus ended one of the 
most enjoyable Christmas entertainments the school ever 
held. 

The amount raised by the school for benevolence from 
January, 1889, to November, 1889, was $ l %% 84. 

The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor of 
the Westminster Church and Sunday-school, composed of 
young ladies who meet Sunday evenings at 7 o'clock, was 
organized on September 22, 1889. The object is to promote 
an earnest Christian life among its members, to improve 
their mutual acquaintance, and to make them more useful. 
The officers are Miss G. Hicks, President ; Miss Ida Bell, 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 309 

Vice-President ; Miss Emma Hoar, Secretary ; and Miss 
Sarah Machin, Treasurer. 

The Westminster Presbyterian Church was crowded 
with scholars and friends, Wednesday evening, December 
25, 1889, when the festival of the Sabbath-school took place. 

Superintendent Charles R. Otis presided. The pro- 
gramme was very interesting, all who took conspicuous 
parts being the smaller children of the school. The little 
tots made especial hits. After Scripture reading and 
prayer by Rev. Mr. Graves, the Superintendent made his 
report and read the report of the School Secretary, Miss 
Sanders. 

Recitations were given by the following children : 
Charley Otis, Rose Effie Kirkwood, Ada Stone, Edna 
Abrams, Allie Stone, Arthur Ovenden, Burgess Hodges, 
Tina McKimm, Birdie Moore, Jessie Ewing, George Lan- 
caster, Maggie Wilson, Harvey Slade, and Gertrude Flem- 
ing. 

The proceedings were varied with the singing of 
carols by the school. Miss Biggerstaff at the organ, Miss 
Sanders at the piano, and William H. Briggs with his cor- 
net accompanied, Walter Thomas being leader. A song 
by the infant class, marked by eccentric outbursts of child- 
ish vim, produced happy smiles on appreciative counte- 
nances. 

" How the Story was Told " was the most elaborate 
feature of the entertainment. The heathen nations were 
represented by young people, in appropriate costumes, who 
spoke and sang. The Hottentots deserve special mention 
for accuracy of detail. This feature, though it had a 
humorous character, was nevertheless quite impressive. 

The event of the evening, of course, was the presenta- 
tion of gifts. Every child received from the school a bag 
of good things to eat ; and there was much exchanging of 
remembrances between teachers and classes. 

Great attention has been given by the superintendents 
of this school to securing the best singing books of the day. 

The patriotism of the school was abundantly shown in 
the late war of the Rebellion, no less than eleven of its 
members taking part therein, namely, John W. Ackerman, 



3IO CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

James Harvey, Richard Cook, James Montgomery, Thomas 
Hampson, Garret Majorie, Solon Lapham, Charles Wilde, 
Charles Austin, George Barker, and Alex. O. Kirkwood, 
all of whom, with the exception of the latter, who was a 
member of the Forty-seventh Massachusetts Volunteers, 
were members of New York regiments, some of whom 
became officers therein. 

Miss Matilda Fuller officiated as pianist in the Sunday- 
school for ten years. Miss Lizzie BiggerstafI, the present 
excellent organist of the church, received her first as well 
as more advanced instructions from Miss Fuller. 

Charles R. Otis has served the school as its superin- 
tendent from May, 1877, with the exceptions of a few years, 
until the present writing. The Sunday-school under his 
leadership has met with marked success, and for his long 
term of service in connection with this school as teacher 
and superintendent his name is on the honorary list of 
Sunday-school workers in Yonkers. 

Three pupils of this school were prepared for the min- 
istry, namely, Alexander Scotland and George Gallagher, 
both of whom graduated from Princeton Theological Sem- 
inary, and Frederick Benedict, who graduated from Park 
College, Parkville, Mo. John C. Goddard, now the talented 
and popular young pastor of the Congregational Church 
in Salisbury, Conn., one of the oldest churches in that 
State, was also a member of this Sunday-school. 

The superintendents in the order of their service have 
been as follows : Ebenezer Curtice, who was the first super- 
intendent, elected September, 1855, an d served until April, 
1856; William Montgomery; Archibald Baxter; Ebenezer 
Curtice, from October, 1859, until October, i860; Henry A. 
Underwood ; James Smith ; G. P. Reevs, M. D. ; Henry A. 
Underwood, resigned 1868 ; Rev. Lewis W. Mudge, Decem- 
ber, 1868, until May, 1877; Charles R. Otis, elected May 6, 
1877, until September, 1884; Walter Thomas, elected Sep- 
tember 9, 1884, to January, 1885 ; Ralph' E. Prime, elected 
January, 1885, resigned October, 1886; Charles R. Otis, the 
present superintendent, reelected October, 1 886. 

The second Sunday in May is observed as Children's 
Day. The morning service in the church is especially 



WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 311 

devoted to them, the pastor usually addressing the Sunday- 
school, which attends in a body. The collection taken at 
that time is devoted to the support of the Sunday-school. 

The lesson helps used by the school are the Peloubet's 
Graded Series of Question Books and the " Sunday-school 
Times." The Sunday-school hymn book is " Gospel Songs, 
No. 5," by Messrs. Sankey, McGranahan, and George Steb- 
bins. 

The teachers' meeting is held immediately after the 
weekly prayer-meeting of the church on Wednesday even- 
ings. The session of the Sunday-school is immediately 
after the morning service of the church, from 12 M. to 1 
p. M. 

Report of school for the year ending April, 1891 : 
Officers, 7; teachers, 35 ; scholars, 540; amount contributed 
for benevolence, $300; number united with the church, 31. 

Miss Josie Sanders has served as secretary of the Sun- 
day-school for seven years. 

The Sunday-school records for 1889, 1890, 1891 include 
the names of the following teachers : Mrs. John H. Brown, 
Mrs. McWilliams, Mrs. Col. Womersley, Miss Lucy Rob- 
erts, Miss Bogart, Miss Emma Smith, Miss Nellie Bartlett, 
Miss Amelia Cutbill, Miss Lizzie Smith, Miss Helen Cou- 
zens, Miss Lizzie Biggerstaff, Miss Agnes McMahon, Miss 
Lillie Bartlett, Miss Mary Hicks, Miss Ada Parsons, Miss 
Georgiana Hicks, Miss Jennie Wiggins, Miss Amie Stone 
(now Mrs. E. R. Holden), Miss A. A. Nichols, Miss Minnie 
Hickey, Miss Louise Smith, Messrs. William McKim, A. O. 
Kirkwood, Col. Womersley, McWilliams, H. Beattie Brown, 
Walter Thomas, Frank Hickey, and Mrs. Wm. P. Con- 
stable. 

The present officers of Westminster Sabbath-school 
are : Superintendent, Charles R. Otis ; Assistant Superin- 
tendent, Frank B. Hickey ; Secretary, Miss Josie Sanders ; 
Treasurer, Miss Amelia Cutbill ; Librarians, William P. 
Hickey, J. B. Austin, Geo. A. Englehart. 

The teachers are : primary class, Mrs. Amelia Walker ; 
Assistant, Miss Alice Christie. The teachers in the main 
school are : Miss Allen, Mr. J. Loring Arnold, Miss Nel- 
lie Bartlett, Miss Libbie Biggerstaff, Mrs. J. H. Brown, 



312 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Miss Susan M. Bogert, Mrs. Robert L. Calkins, Miss M. 
E. Couzens, Miss Lilla Clark, Mrs. Mary E. Clark, Miss. 
Amelia Cutbill, Mr. Wm. P. Constable, Mrs. Wm. Eddy, 
Miss Minnie Hickey, Miss Georgie Hicks, Miss Mary 
Hicks, Miss Emma Hoar, Mr. Allan S. Kirkwood, Mr. 
Robert O. Kirkwood, Miss Sarah McMahon, Miss Liz- 
zie McMahon, Mr. Wm. McKim, Mr. J. R. Mc William, Mrs. 
J. R. McWilliam, Miss Adelia A. Nichols, Miss Ada Par- 
sons, Miss Lucy H. Roberts, Miss Emma Smith, Miss Lib- 
bie Smith, Miss Grace Stone, Miss Maude Synyer, Mr. 
Walter Thomas, and Mrs. Col. Womersley. 



THE FIRST UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 31 3 



CHAPTER XI. 

THE FIRST UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND 
SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The First Unitarian Congregational Church of Yon- 
kers owes its establishment to the efforts of Messrs. Gil- 
man Dudley, Cyrus Cleveland, George Macadam,* James M. 
Drake, and Gorham Parks. 

June 30, 1856, printed invitations were sent to all those 
interested in the cause of liberal Christianity to meet for 
religious services, which were to be held in the Getty Ly- 
ceum, in the Getty House, on Sunday, July 6, 1856. 

About two hundred persons, residents of Yonkers, 
Riverdale, Spuyten Duy vil, Fort Washington, Hastings, and 
Irvington, responded to the invitation, and met at the time 
appointed to listen to the first Unitarian sermon preached 
in Yonkers. It was delivered by Rev. Samuel S. Osgood, 
D. D., then pastor of the Church of the Messiah in New York. 

Occasional services were continued, with the assistance 
of various clergymen, until 1857, when Rev. A. A. Liver- 
more, D. D., author of the Commentaries, and editor of the 
New York " Christian Inquirer," came to reside in Yonkers. 
As no hall could be procured, preaching services were held 
for several weeks at the residences of Cyrus Cleveland, Dun- 
can Smith, Mr. Homans, and others, Rev. Dr. Livermore 
officiating. Rev. Mr. Cook, a Presbyterian clergyman, who 
was conducting a boys' school at the corner of South Broad- 

* George Macadam was untiring in his devotion and faithfulness to ad- 
vance its interests in the early days of its history. He also was an active 
and efficient worker in all efforts for the improvement and intellectual cul- 
ture of young men of the community, and earnestly sought by every means 
in his power to promote their happiness without regard to caste or con- 
dition. He was prominent in the organization of the Yonkers Circulating 
Library Association which was incorporated in 1859, of which he was Pres- 
ident. He was a member of the first lecture committee of the Yonkers 
Debating Society, oganized in May, 1854. He was suddenly called from 
his labors March 29, 1857. His memory lingers in the hearts of those who 
knew and loved him for his many virtues and respected him for his philan- 
thropy. 



314 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

way and Hudson Street, kindly offered the rise of his school- 
room to the congregation, and preached himself several 
times very acceptably. 

The society was organized September 7, 1858, and the 
first board of trustees was elected on that day. The names 
of the gentlemen who composed the board are as follows : 
James M. Drake, Cyrus Cleveland, Everett Clapp, Gilman 
Dudley, and Joseph Mattison, and they signed the certifi- 
cate of incorporation under the laws of the State of New 
York. Of these gentlemen all are still alive except Mr. 
Dudley and Cyrus Cleveland. 

About this time the society secured Flagg's Hall, on 
Palisade Avenue, corner of Mechanic Street (now New Main 
Street), and worshipped there three years, until the present 
church edifice on North Broadway, between Irving Place 
and Lamartine Avenue, was erected in 1861. Baldwin & 
Bradley did the mason work, Ackert & Quick were the car- 
penters, John McLain did the painting, and J. Wray Mould, 
was the architect and superintended the work. The edifice 
was so well built that it has required no repairs since its 
construction, except outside painting. The stained glass 
windows came from the Morgan establishment. 

The dedication of the new house of worship took place 
on Wednesday morning, October 30, 1861, at eleven o'clock. 
The programme of exercises on that occasion was as follows : 

Voluntary on the organ. Chant. Invocation by Rev. 
Samuel Osgood, D. D. Duet— " Come, thou Fount of 
every blessing." Prayer of dedication by Rev. Frederick 
A. Farley, D. D. Hymn, read by Rev. Eben Francis. 
Sermon by Rev. Henry W. Bellows, D. D. Anthem — 
Jubilate. Address by Rev. A. A. Livermore, D. D. Con- 
cluding prayer by Rev. O. B. Frothingham. Hymn, read 
by Rev. N. A. Staples, formerly chaplain of the Sixth Wis- 
consin Regiment and pastor of the Second Unitarian 
Church of Brooklyn. Benediction by Rev. Mr. Shepard, of 
Mount Vernon. 

The following brief notice of this interesting occasion 
appeared in the " Yonkers Examiner :" 

"This beautiful little church, so pleasing to the eye 
both in its outward and inner appearance, was solemnly 



THE FIRST UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 315 

dedicated to God's service on Wednesday morning last, 
October 30. The exercises began at eleven o'clock, but 
long before that hour the church was crowded to its utmost 
extent. The singing from the quartet choir was excellent, 
especially the duet ' Come, thou Fount of every bless- 
ing,' and the anthem Jubilate. The sermon was preached 
by Rev. Henry W. Bellows, D. D., from the text ' I am the 
door : by me if any man enter, he shall go in and out and 
find pasture.' John 10:9. It was listened to with pro- 
found attention and was most impressive and solemn, yet 
in its influence it was elevating and joyous." 

The address of the pastor, Rev. A. A. Livermore, was 
listened to with no less interest. He spoke of the church 
as the great preventive of natural crime and disorders, as the 
foundation stone of all private and public excellences, and 
said that although Hope Church had gone up amid the 
clangor of arms, still it was a part of the great work to 
save our country by advancing the cause of God. Speaking 
of the building, he said the edifice was planted in the spring- 
time, the summer had witnessed its growth, and now in 
the autumn the golden sheaves, the finished reality, stood 
before them. He spoke of the spirit which had animated 
the members of the church in erecting so beautiful an edifice. 
They had given time, labor, money, not grudgingly, but 
with that free spirit which has faith, hope, and charity for 
its basis and the advancing of God's kingdom for its object. 
His allusion to those " who had lingered with them but a 
short time, and then passed on, but who although absent in 
body were still with them in spirit," was touchingly beauti- 
ful. He referred to the beautiful decorations of the walls 
and explained the meaning of the symbols thereon. They 
were language to the eyes by which the spirit would receive 
a dim vision of its future immortality. He closed the 
address by referring to the objects for which the church was 
dedicated and urged that all would keep such ever in view 
as the surest way to become blessed of God both as a 
people and a church. 

The following notice descriptive of the church edifice 
appeared in the " New York Evening Post :" 

" The church itself is truly a gem in its way. Built in 



316 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

the form of a Latin cross, its outline is ingeniously varied 
by the introduction of porches and side entrances so as to 
give it an appearance of breadth, as well as superior ele- 
gance. A delicate spire appropriately springs from the 
central portion of the roof. 

"Within, the decorations seemed in some degree a 
reflex of nature's coloring without, the crimson, orange, 
and gold being tastefully introduced in the ornamentation 
of apsis, pulpit, organ loft, and windows. Over the arch 
spanning the pulpit is inscribed in golden letters the words : 
1 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will 
towards men.' And over the arched windows on either 
side of the pulpit are the following inscriptions : on the 
right, ' The truth shall make you free ;' on the left, ' I know 
that my Redeemer liveth.' In the recess over the stained 
glass windows in the rear of the pulpit are the words 
' Faith, Hope, Charity,' and on the ceiling above them are 
symbols expressive of the faith of the church. 

" We attempt no technical description, but simply re- 
cord an agreeable impression. To J. W. Mould, the archi- 
tect, is to be given the credit of the happy designs of this 
beautiful and cheerful Christian church, a fitting religious- 
home for those who have a bright and courageous faith." 

Rev. Frederick C. Farley, D. D., a retired clergyman 
of Brooklyn, has always manifested a very deep interest in 
the growth of the church ever since its organization. Rev. 
Thomas Starr King also gave a lecture, the proceeds of 
which he very generously donated towards the building 
fund of the church. 

The twenty-fifth anniversary of the church was held 
on Sunday evening, July 6, 1 88 1 , at the residence of Thomas 
F. Gane, on North Broadway. 

Rev. Stephen H. Camp, of Union Church, Brooklyn, 
presided. 

Letters of congratulation were read from Rev. A. A. 
Livermore, D. D., the first pastor and founder of the church, 
Rev. Joseph May, Rev. G. L. Stowell, former pastors of the 
church, and from Rev. Frederick C. Farley, D. D., of Brook- 
lyn, eighty-eight years of age, who was present at the dedi- 
cation of Hope Church. An address was made by Rev. 



THE FIRST UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 317 

Theodore C. Williams, of All Souls' Church, New York, 
and Rev. Mr. Camp. 

Mr. Fretwell, of Brooklyn, made a few remarks. Hymn 
463, " One holy church of God appears," was sung. Mr. 
Camp pronounced the benediction, and the exercises of 
the twenty-fifth anniversary of Hope Unitarian Church 
were brought to a close. 

The first pastor of this church was Rev. A. A. Liver- 
more, D. D., who served for six years and resigned in 1863, 
when he accepted a call to the Presidency of the Meadville 
Theological School in Pennsylvania, which position he now 
holds. 

He was succeeded by Rev. Israel F. Williams, a prom- 
ising young clergyman from Taunton, Mass. The war of 
the Rebellion was raging at that time, and before assuming 
the pastorate Mr. Williams entered the service of the United 
States Sanitary Commission to fulfil an engagement that 
he had made. There he was taken sick, and died on the day 
on which he was to have been installed as pastor, in 1864. 

From that time the services were conducted by different 
preachers until September 14, 1865, when Rev. Joseph May 
was ordained and installed as pastor. Rev. Mr. May re- 
signed after two years' service, and accepted a call from 
Newbury port, Mass., and from thence to the First Unitarian 
Church of Philadelphia, over which he is settled at the 
present time. 

He was followed by Rev. Rushton D. Burr, who min- 
istered to the society for nine years. Mr. Burr is now 
preaching in London, England. 

After Mr. Burr left lay services were carried on for two 
years, during which time the best printed sermons of the 
denomination were read by Duncan Smith and Fisher A. 
Baker. 

The next settled pastor was Rev. George L. Stowell, 
who remained four years, and left on account of failing 
health. 

Rev, John Haddaeus was his successor in 1884, and re- 
mained with the society until 1 886. 

The present pastor, Rev. James Thompson Bixby, Ph. 
D., was installed on Sunday evening, March 7, 1887, and is 



318 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

serving the church with great acceptance. He is the second 
son of Clark S. and Elizabeth C. Bixby, was born in Barre^ 
Mass., July 30, 1843, an d is of native American stock on both 
his father's and mother's side, one of his ancestors being 
the Mistress Rebecca Nourse who was executed at Salem, 
Mass., during the witchcraft delusion, she steadfastly refus- 
ing to confess to charges made against her. 

Mr. Bixby was prepared for college at the Cambridge 
High School in i860, and graduated 'in 1864. For three 
years he was engaged in private teaching in New York 
city. In 1870 he graduated at the Harvard Divinity School. 
After nine years of service as pastor of the First Parish, 
Watertown, Mass., and secondly of the First Parish, Bel- 
fast, Maine, he became professor of religious philosophy in 
the Meadville Theological School in Pennsylvania, filling 
at the same time the post of minister to the Independent 
Congregational Church at Meadville. 

In 1876 and in 1883 he delivered courses of lectures be- 
fore the Lowell Institute in Boston, Mass. In 1876 he pub- 
lished, through D. Appleton & Co., a work on the relations 
of science and religion entitled " Similarities of Physical 
and Religious Knowledge." In 1883 a European trip for 
the purpose of travel and study at the German universities 
was undertaken, and in 1885 he received the degree of 
doctor of philosophy from the University of Leipzig. 

On his return to the United States he filled for some 
time the pulpit of the Unitarian Church in Ann Arbor. 
In January, 1887, he accepted the invitation of the Uni- 
tarian Congregational Church of Yonkers to become its 
pastor. 

The following is the order of exercises of the service 
of welcome to Rev. James T. Bixby, on Monday evening, 
March 7, 1887 : Voluntary. Invocation. Reading of the 
Scriptures, Rev. A. D. Smith. Hymn. Sermon, Rev. 
Theodore C. Williams. Installing prayer, Rev. Robert 
Collyer. Hymn. Right hand of fellowship, Rev. Russell 
N. Bellows. Charge to the pastor, Rev. Robert Collyer. 
Address to the congregation, Rev. Stephen H. Camp. 
Hymn. Benediction by the pastor. 

This society, after the close of the war, supported a 



THE FIRST UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 319 

teacher for the Freedmen of the South for three years at an 
expense of §600 per year. It also contributed generously 
to the Sanitary Commission during the Civil War. 

The church property is beautifully located, is valuable, 
and free from debt. The present board of trustees is com- 
posed of Cyrus Cleveland,* President, Duncan Smith, Hal- 
cyon Skinner, Fisher A. Baker, and Miss Emma Herzog, 
who is also Secretary. 

Divine worship on Sunday is held in this church at 
10 : 45 a. M. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper is celebrated 
on the first Sunday in January, April, July, and October. 
The pulpit Bible, which is a handsome Oxford one, was 
presented to the church October, 1861, by Rev. Mr. Word- 
ly's church, of Providence, R. I. 

The baptismal font of the Unitarian church was pre- 
sented by Mir. Gilman Dudley, of Hastings. 

The communion service was presented by Mr. James 
M. Drake, of New York. 

The organist of the church is Miss Joanna W. Williams. 

Abner C. Gault, the present sexton of the church, has 
occupied that place for eighteen years. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The Sunday-school of the First Unitarian Congrega- 
tional Church was begun in September, 1856, and was held 
at irregular intervals from that date until the erection of 
the present church edifice in 1 861, at which time a more 
complete organization of the school was effected by Rev. 
A. A. Livermore, D. D., the first pastor of the church. 
The school has been regularly maintained since that date. 

Previous to that time the school was held in the Getty 
Lyceum, a hall in the Getty House, which it occupied for 
several months. From that place it was removed to Flagg's 
Hall, corner of Palisade Avenue and New Main Street — then 
Factory and Mechanic Streets — which place it continued to 
occupy until the completion of the present ^house of wor- 
ship. 

The pastors of the church have always manifested a 
deep interest in its welfare, and some of them have served 

* Deceased. 



320 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

as its superintendent. Mrs. A. A. Livermore was the first 
superintendent. Among the early teachers are recalled 
the following: George Macadam, Miss Sophia A. Mac- 
adam, the Misses Cleveland, Miss Elizabeth W. Putnam, 
Miss A. W. Warren, David R. Jaques, and those of a still 
later date are Mrs. Duncan Smith, Miss Swazy, Miss M. C. 
Osborne, Mrs. Thos. F. Gane, Rev. G. L. Stowell, Henry 
Jones, Miss Emma Herzog, and Miss J. W. Williams. 

The school, though never large, has had on its enrol- 
ment list forty pupils. Its regular session is held at 12:05 
o'clock, noon, immediately after the morning service. 

The following is from a printed report of this Sunday- 
school in the centennial year, February, 1 876 : 

" The Sunday-school connected with the Unitarian 
Church on North Broadway has made good progress since 
its organization and had an able and efficient corps of 
teachers. The superintendent kindly furnished us with the 
following exhibit of the school during the past year : Offi- 
cers, 1 ; teachers, 7 ; scholars on register, 54 : average attend- 
ance, 24 ; largest attendance, 32 ; deaths, 1 ; volumes in 
library, 335. Mr. Pelham W. Warren acts in the capacity 
of superintendent, treasurer, and librarian. The teachers 
are, Mrs. Duncan Smith, Miss T. Cleveland, Miss Sophia 
Macadam, Miss L. Montgomery, Miss Ann Osborne, and 
Miss M. Swazy. 

" The teachers of this school are interested in all efforts 
for the advancement of Sunday-school work. Mrs. Warren, 
a former teacher of the school, has been appointed to pre- 
pare an essay on methods of Sunday-school work, which is 
to be read— and is one of the subjects for discussion— at the 
fall convention of the Women's League, which association 
has been recently formed by the Unitarian Church, and 
which has for its object the spread of ' liberal Christianity ' 
and the furtherance of practical methods of benevolence in 
connection with church work." 

The pastorate of Rev. Rushton D. Burr, in connection 
with this Sunday-school, is held in pleasant remembrance 
from his interest in the choral services, of which he had 
the immediate supervision. 

The following extract from a letter received from a 



THE FIRST UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 32 1 

former pastor and superintendent, Rev. Joseph May, gives 
reminiscences of the Sunday-school while under his charge : 

"York Harbor, Maine, July ii, 1888. 

" Miss A. E. Kirkwood : 

" Your favor called up some of my happiest memories, 
but I regret that my recollections in respect to the particu- 
lars about which you inquire are, I find, too vague to be of 
use to you. My congregation, though strong in spirit and 
life, was small in numbers, and contained, even for its size, 
proportionally few children. Our school was maintained 
with earnest devotion and the children were happy. I re- 
member especially one grand Christmas eve festival when 
we built an evergreen bower from which a fairy emerged, 
recited a Christmas poem, and presently unveiled another 
who assisted her in distributing the previously hidden 
gifts. But I can give you few details — hardly any except 
that Mr. David R. Jaques, now of New York, and Miss 
Elizabeth Putnam, now deceased, were the most responsible 
active workers in the school while I was there. I have no 
doubt that the school was organized by Rev. Dr. Liver- 
more. I think Mr. George Macadam assisted him. Regret- 
ting to serve you so poorly, and hoping you may from 
others get more of what you desire, believe me, 

" Very truly yours, 

"JOSEPH MAY." 

Rev. A. A. Livermore, D. D., the founder of this Sun- 
day-school, writes as follows : 

" Wilton, New Hampshire, August 24, 1888. 
'.'*'*•* After the erection of Hope Church on North Broad- 
way the Sunday-school was regularly established. The 
number of teachers and scholars was always small, but 
they were interested and devoted, and made up in fidelity 
and zeal what was lacking in size. 

. " Besides the children of the church, a few from out- 
side families attended, making it, in part, a mission-school. 
I remember members from the families of Macadam, Drake, 
Cleveland, Cromwell, Homans, Osborne, Mattison, Gourlie, 
and others were enlisted either as teachers or pupils. One 
of the younger classes used the Calvary Catechism, and 

Sunday-school Work. 21 



322 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

others Fox's Questions on the Four Gospels. The Uni- 
tarian Service Book was used to conduct the devotional 
exercises. A weekly children's paper, ' The Day spring, ' 
was distributed. An address was usually delivered. 

" The number of pupils at one time was forty. They 
have long since been scattered by removal and death. 
Some have grown up to be influential members of society, 
some found an early grave, and some are still members 
of Hope Church, and help to maintain the cause of liberal 
Christain faith. They have all, I trust, become followers of 
the Lord Jesus Christ, and tasted the exceeding sweetness 
of his loving spirit, and been made happier for the lessons 
of the Hope Church Sunday-school and better fitted for 
their immortal career as the children of God. 

" We also, as children of Hope Church, had another, 
not Sunday-school, but evening week-day school, in which 
we were all much interested. It was open to all children 
of both sexes who could not attend the common school be- 
cause of their employment. It was held on Tuesday and 
Thursday of each week in a hall over a saloon on the street 
opposite the Getty House, near Broadway. The number of 
pupils who attended was between eighty and ninety. The 
teachers were all volunteers and their services were gratu- 
itous. They came from all the churches in town — Episco- 
pal, Baptist, Methodist, and Unitarian — without regard to 
denomination. The hours were from seven until nine o'clock. 
The exercises began with a brief address of from five to 
ten minutes from persons invited for the occasion. Minis- 
ters, lawyers, and merchants were among the number who 
interested the children. One evening the Unitarian min- 
ister addressed them ; another evening the Catholic priest, 
for many Catholic children attended. Rev. Dr. Seward, 
the Presbyterian clergyman, also delivered an address. 
The laymen who were also present and gave interesting 
talks were Messrs. Robert P. Getty, Drake, Cleveland, 
Clapp, and others. 

" The school was thoroughly enjoyed by "us, and many 
pupils expressed their gratitude for it. It was unsectarian, 
broadly humanitarian, yet endeavored to be thoroughly 
Christian. The common branches were taught. The open- 



THE FIRST UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 323 

ing address was designed to open the practical theme of 
their life-work to the boys and girls. 

"The school was conducted for about eighteen months. 
Then the town of Yonkers took it under their patronage. 
If Hope Church* had done nothing else than to start the 
evening school for the poor and toiling children of Yonkers, 
she has done something to be remembered with gratitude 
by her citizens. May she ever be fruitful in works of 
philanthropy and Christian faith. No interest on earth is 
greater than the moral and intellectual and Christian nur- 
ture of the young. If you, by your sketches, can fan into 
life a livelier flame, the love and zeal of the disciples of 
Christ, in this great cause, you will have done something to 
receive the blessing of Him who said, ' Feed my lambs.' 

" Very respectfully, 

"A. A. LIVERMORE." 

The seventeenth anniversary of this Sunday-school 
was held in the church on Sunday evening, June 29, 1873, 
at which the audience-room was well filled with the scholars 
and their friends. It was elegantly decorated with flowers. 
Addresses were made by Mr. Cromwell, of Brooklyn, and 
John E. Williams, of Irvington, and a beautiful banner, the 
gift of Joseph Lamb, of New York, was presented by Prof. 
D. R. Jaques, of New York, to the class — Miss Cleveland's — 
which had made the best average attendance during the 
year. 

A new cabinet Mason and Hamlin organ, costing $250, 
has just been placed in the church. It is a fine one, the 
tones very sweet and powerful. The Misses Swazy led the 
congregational singing. 

The annual picnic of the school was held June 14, 
1873, at Dudley's grove, when the children had a very 
pleasurable time. 

The Sunday-school has contributed towards the en- 
dowment fund of the "Cot of the Ministering Children" 
in St. John's Hospital, and towards the Society for the 
Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The school also assisted 

* This name was given to the church by Rev. Dr. Livermore. In the 
certificate of incorporation the church is named the First Unitarian Con- 
gregational Society of Yonkers, N. Y. 



324 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

the ladies of the church in their noble work in connection 
with the Flower and Fruit Mission, which was begun in 
New York in May, 1869, in a nail No. 239 Fourth Avenue, 
which was generously given arid fitted up, free of expense 
to the society, for their headquarters, by the trustees and 
congregation of All Souls' Church. The earnestness and 
fidelity of those connected with this church and Sunday- 
school and of others who have been associated with them 
in this beautiful charity for many years — some of whom 
have passed away — are well remembered. Though they 
have gone from our sight they still live in the affectionate 
recollections of many. 

From the seventh annual report of the Flower and 
Fruit Mission is the following in regard to the work of 
the Yonkers friends of the mission : 

"To our earliest friend, Mrs. Cleveland, and through 
her to the ladies of Yonkers, we feel especially grateful. 
During the past six summers they have sent us regularly 
every week two large boxes of flowers, packed so beauti- 
fully that they reached the rooms looking as fresh as if 
just picked. Rain or shine, they always came, and what- 
ever else failed, the Yonkers flowers were always there." 

For more than twenty years has Mrs. Cleveland, of 
the Unitarian church referred to above, superintended the 
work of sending flowers twice a week to this mission. 

The Flower Mission recently took out eleven thousand 
four hundred and twenty-five bunches of flowers, the lar- 
gest number ever distributed in a single day. From forty 
to fifty ladies distributed them in the worst tenement houses 
from Water Street to the park, attending to the sick at first 
among them. 

The closing session of the Sunday-school for the sum- 
mer season of 1888 was held on Children's Day, Sunday 
morning, June 24. The floral decorations on this occasion 
were in abundance, a beautiful arch of field daisies spanning 
the pulpit, five feet in height, the base of which rested on 
the pulpit desk. The communion table with its crimson 
velvet cover strewn with roses, and the delicate white blos- 
soms of the dutzie, in the centre of which stood a cross of 
daisies and grasses, the windows festooned with roses, ferns, 



THE FIRST UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 325 

and trailing vines, and the baptismal font entwined with 
honeysuckle and white roses, presented a scene of rare beauty 
and attractiveness. 

The order of exercises observed on this occasion was 
from a service prepared for " Children's Sunday " by Rev. 
Henry G. Spaulding, and was entitled " Festival of Flowers." 

These exercises began by singing of " Summer Days," 
and a prayer in which the school and congregation united 
in concert. Then " Heavenly Shepherd, who art feeding 
all Thy flock with kindest care," was sung, after which the 
impressive ordinance of baptism was administered to Irene 
Best, a member of the Sunday-school. After this came a 
responsive reading from Psalm 104. The pastor, Rev. James 
T, Bixby, read and there was a responsive singing of " O 
all ye works of the Lord." Next was a responsive reading 
from the Song of Solomon, followed by the Apostles' Creed. 
Singing, " In holy contemplation." Responsive reading 
from Genesis. Singing, " Hark the lilies whisper." 

Sermon by the pastor from these words : " Blessed be 
the Lord God of our fathers which hath put such a thing 
as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord 
which is in Jerusalem." Ezra 7 : 27. 

After alluding to the building and beauty of the temple 
at Jerusalem, and of art as displayed in the adornment of the 
temples of worship of the present day, Mr. Bixby in closing 
said : " Seek to make your hearts fit temples for the indwell- 
ing of the Holy Spirit. Strive to exhibit in your daily 
lives all the spiritual graces. These flowers which surround 
us in such abundance are symbols of God's divine love and 
exhibit his boundless care for his creatures, his overflowing 
love in providing so beautiful an earthly home for them 
to dwell in. Strive to build up the temple of your charac- 
ter with moral beauty, serenity, gentleness, faith, and cour- 
age, which make the beauty of the soul. Learn a lesson 
from the flowers. Consider the lilies, and seek to make 
your lives as pure as they. Keep your faces upward and 
towards the light, Do good. Seek not human applause. 
Well do I recall one who possessed great gentleness of 
character, who lived a consecrated life, and who brought 
peace and good cheer and brightness into the lives of others. 



326 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

She was engaged one day, in her quiet and unobtrusive 
way, in the distribution of bouquets of flowers — thousands 
of which she had given annually to the patients in the 
hospitals of Cambridge — when one said to her, ' What is 
your creed ?' ' To make everybody as happy as I can,' was 
her reply." 

At the close of the sermon by the request of Mr. Bixby 
the congregation engaged for a few moments in silent 
prayer, which was followed by a brief prayer by the pastor, 
and the service closed by singing " Lord, dismiss us with 
thy blessing," and the benediction, after which bouquets of 
flowers were distributed by the pastor to the children of 
the Sunday-school, and each member of the congregation 
also received a beautiful bouquet of roses, as a memento of 
the pleasant and interesting occasion. 

The children of the Unitarian Sunday-school met at 
the home of Miss Herzog, 238 North Broadway, at half -past 
three on Saturday, Christmas, December 22, 1888, and passed 
the afternoon by playing games and in other amusements. 
At six o'clock a fine supper was served which was greatly 
enjoyed. A big pie, containing a useful gift for each child, 
was discussed with special zeal. After supper the pastor, 
Rev. Dr. James T. Bixby, presented the regular gifts, con- 
sisting of albums, books, games, toys, and candies. 

Miss Sophia Macadam, in connection with this Sunday- 
school, is among the honorary list of Sunday-school work- 
ers in Yonkers. 

The following persons, in the order of their service, 
have filled the office of superintendent of the school since its 
organization : Mrs. A. A. Livermore, Rev. A. A. Livermore, 
D. D., Rev. Joseph May, Miss Elizabeth W. Putnam, David 
R. Jaques, James Warren, Pelham W. Warren, Henry W. 
Jones, Downing Vaux, Rev. John Haddaeus, and the present 
pastor, Rev. James T. Bixby , who is now the superintendent. 

The secretary, treasurer, and librarian of the school is 
William Thorne, Jr. 

The Sunday-school helps used by the school are the 
Sunday-school Service Book and Dole's Bible Stories. The 
hymn book is " The Sunny Side," a book of songs for Sun- 
day-schools and families. 



ST. PAULS EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 327 

CHAPTER XII. 

ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

Early in the summer of 1858 the Young Men's Mis- 
sionary Association of St John's parish furnished a room 
in Mechanic Street (now New Main Street) for holding 
mission services. About the same time the Rev. Darius R. 
Brewer, rector of Immanuel parish, Newport, R. I., who was 
passing a few days with relatives in Yonkers, was invited 
to take charge of the mission. He accepted and entered 
upon its duties on the first Sunday in September, 1858. 

A few weeks previous to this date the Rev. Mr. Brewer 
conducted a service under the auspices of the Young Men's 
Association in a brick building which was on the site now 
occupied by the Yonkers Savings Bank. This building 
was erected in 1839 by Lemuel Wells, and was the oldest 
brick building in Yonkers with the exception of Manor 
Hall. It was in this building that the first religious services 
in connection with St. Paul's Church were held. 

The mission was so successful as to give rise to the de- 
sire for the organization of a new parish. The rector of St. 
John's Church, the Rev. Abraham B. Carter, D. D., cordially 
gave his canonical consent, and on the 15th of December, 
1858, the parish was legally incorporated under the title of 
" The Rector, Wardens, and Vestry of St. Paul's Church," 
and the following gentlemen were elected wardens and 
vestrymen: Henry Anstice and Dr. J. Foster Jenkins, 
wardens; Edward W. Candee, S. Emmet Getty, Thomas 
F. Morris, William Beal, Charles Martin, Thomas Furniss, 
Thomas W. Birdsall, and R. W. Nesbitt, vestrymen. Henry 
Anstice is the only remaining one of the original founders 
of St. Paul's parish who is now — June, 1889 — connected 
with it. 

" Dr. J. Foster Jenkins, who in God's providence was 
removed to paradise in October, 1882, was firmly attached 
to the parish until the day of his death, and gave himself 
earnestly to its interests in his wise counsel, his self-sacrific- 



328 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

ing labors, his generous giving, and in his pure Christian 
life. His name is most honored in St. Paul's parish and his 
memory is blessed." 

In the spring of 1859 the Getty Lyceum, in the Getty 
House, was obtained for the better accommodation of the 
congregation. In the autumn of the same year another 
removal was made, to meet the needs of the growing con- 
gregation, to Farrington Hall, in the brick building erected 
by Thomas O. Farrington on Getty Square, which was after- 
wards destroyed by fire, January 3, 1866, and which was 
replaced by the Radford (now Hawley) building. 

A permanent location for the church was obtained the 
same year by the purchase of land on North Broadway, be- 
tween Ashburton Avenue and Irving Place, and on Sep, 
tember 16, 1859, ^ ess than one year after the organization 
of the parish, the corner-stone of the church was laid, 
according to the usual form of the diocese, by Bishop Potter. 
The Rev. Dr. Tyng, rector of St. George's, New York, 
the Rev. Dr. Carter, rector of St. John's Church, Yonkers, 
and the Rev. D. R. Brewer, the rector of the parish, made 
addresses. 

The architects of the church edifice were R. Upjohn &. 
Co. The foundation of the building was laid by Hugh Cur- 
ran, the mason work was done by Daniel Blauvelt, and. 
the carpenter work by Ackert & Quick. 

The church was opened for worship on Easter, April 
8, i860. The consecration of the church was necessarily 
postponed until the building should be free from debt. 

The Rev. Darius Richmond Brewer was invested with 
the office of rector of St. Paul's parish on Sunday, April 22, 
i860, by Bishop Clark, of Rhode Island. 

The beautiful ritual for the burial of the dead was used 
for the first time in St. Paul's Church, June 1, i860, when 
the remains of Ellen G. Brewer, the rector's only daughter, 
not quite three years of age, were taken into the house of 
the Lord to be borne thence to the house appointed for 
all the living. 

The support of the parish since its organization had 
been provided for on the free church system, or the volun- 
tary contributions of the congregation. April 14, 1862, a 



ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 329 

meeting of the male members of the congregation was held 
for the consideration of the question, " Shall the means for 
maintaining public worship in this church be provided by 
renting the pews?" At this time there was a strong party 
for continuing the church as it had been founded, which 
promised to contribute largely to that end ; but the question 
was decided in the affirmative and the pew-renting system 
was established, and has ever since been continued. 

This change in the mode of meeting the expenses of 
the church was approved by the rector, Rev. D. R. Brewer. 
The change, however, was not carried into effect until April 
1, 1863. This action appears to have been attended by an 
increase of the congregation. In that year the church 
building was enlarged by the addition of a south aisle, 
whereby the original design of the architect was completed, 
and twenty-three pews were added ; also an addition was 
built on the west end of the church to receive a new orean. 
The money to meet the cost of these improvements was 
advanced by Messrs. Anstice and Mulford. 

In the spring of 1864 the rector, the Rev. Mr. Brewer, 
resigned his charge on account of impaired health. A meet- 
ing of the parishioners was immediately called, at which a 
resolution was passed asking the rector to withdraw his res- 
ignation and requesting the vestry to offer him a vacation 
and continue his salary during the same. A purse of over 
$1,200 was made up by voluntary contributions and present- 
ed to him. Influenced by these proofs of the good-will and 
affection of his people, he decided to remain if his health 
should be restored. During Mr. Brewer's indisposition he 
was assisted in the Sunday services by Lyman Cobb, Jr., 
who for a brief period was the lay reader, and subsequently 
was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Horatio Potter. Mr. 
Brewer resumed his duties on the first of October, after an 
absence of four months. In the year 1865 the debt, amount- 
ing to $5,000, was paid. The effort for this object was begun 
by the ladies of the church, who raised $1,900. The in- 
terior of the church was greatly improved by coloring the 
walls and graining the woodwork. A floating debt of $1,500 
was also paid. A little volume entitled " The Rector's 
Offering," containing selections from sermons of the rector, 



330 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

the Rev. D. R. Brewer, was published by Anson D. F. Ran- 
dolph, New York, and the proceeds of its sale were con, 
tributed by the rector towards this good work. 

The building, entirely free of debt, was consecrated to 
the service of Almighty God on Thursday, December 28, 
1865, by the Bishop of the diocese, the Right Rev. Horatio 
Potter, D. D., who was assisted by the Rev. Dr. Washburn 
and the Revs. Guilbert, Dickinson, Syle, Hepburn, and 
Brewer. After the services at the church the Bishop and 
clergy, with the vestrymen and others, assembled at the 
house of the rector, No 53 Ashburton Avenue, where an 
elegant collation had been prepared by the ladies of the 
parish. 

Rev. Mr. Brewer did not remain long to enjoy the fruit 
of his labors. His removal to another parish he hoped 
would be the means of invigorating his health and impart- 
ing greater efficiency to his ministrations. He also believed 
that the parish had reached the point where its growth and 
strength would-be more successfully promoted by another 
rector. And so on June 1 , 1 866, he tendered his resignation 
to take effect on the last day of July. His ministry had 
been most successful. During his rectorship a congregation 
had been gathered, the parish had been organized, a house 
of worship had been built and consecrated free of debt. 
He was much beloved by his people. 

"It is not too much to say that he was the model pas- 
tor going before the flock, not only pointing out the road 
to heaven, but also leading the way. He preached by 
his example, by his daily walk and conversation. One 
could hardly tell what it was that made him so attractive. 
It was not brilliant talking ; he never seemed to make any 
special effort to please ; but there was a sort of quiet mag- 
netism about him which drew others and made one feel 
that he was a friend worth having. 

"Mr. Brewer possessed in a rare degree the real gift 
of sympathy. It did not show itself in gushing words and 
violent protestations, but in those gentle acts of kindness 
that are precious to one who feels that the hand of God is 
laid heavily upon him, and as he went from house to house 
ministering to the poor, supplying both their temporal and 



ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 33 1 

their spiritual wants, comforting the bereaved in their afflic- 
tion, talking to the dying of Him who went down to the 
grave to rob death of its sting and the grave of its victory, 
and leading the burdened sinner to the blessed Saviour, 
who said ' Come unto me, and I will give you rest,' gath- 
ering the children around his feet and making their eyes 
glisten with his bright and cheery words — thus it was that 
he found his way into the hearts of his people." 

" There was never any doubt as to his position on 
any question, which was always clearly defined." 

In a local paper occurs the following paragraph in re- 
gard to a sermon delivered by the Rev. Mr. Brewer during 
the troublous times in our late civil war. The writer says : 
" Although differing from the Rev. Mr. Brewer in our polit- 
ical views, he has, during his residence among us, in all 
places and at all times proven himself to be a truly refined 
and courteous gentleman as well as a faithful and assiduous 
minister of the gospel of Christ. There are few men whom 
we have more delight to honor." At that time the Rev. Mr. 
Brewer was the first clergyman who took an active part in. 
Yonkers in the raising of funds for the United States Sani- 
tary Commission, and was also among the first of the citi- 
zens to unfurl the stars and stripes from the flagstaff which 
he erected himself on the rectory of St. Paul's. 

The Rev. Mr. Brewer died in the rectorship of Christ 
Church at Westerly, R. L, March 18, 1881. 

The parish register from the time the Rev. Mr. Brewer 
commenced his labors, in September, 1858, until January, 
1866, gives these statistics: Baptisms, 106; confirmations, 
57 ; admitted to the Holy Communion, 256 ; marriages, 46; 
burials, 60. 

The Rev. Uriah T. Tracy succeeded the Rev. Mr. Brewer 
as rector of the parish, October, 1866, and resigned July, 1869. 
After a vacancy of two months the Rev. S. G. Fuller was 
elected as rector of the parish. In February, 1871, he 
resigned to become the rector of St. Paul's Church, Syra- 
cuse, N. Y., where he died a few years after. The Rev. 
David F. Banks was called to the rectorship of the parish 
in April, 1871. After a ministry of about five years he 
resigned. He died at his home in Connecticut. The 



332 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Rev. Mr. Banks was assisted for one year by the Rev. Ar- 
thur Sloan. The Rev. C. Maurice Wines succeeded Mr. 
Banks as the rector of St. Paul's and entered upon his 
charge on Sunday, May i, 1876. He resigned in October, 

1879. 

The Rev. William Hammond Mills, D. D., the present 
rector of St. Paul's, was born in Newton, Mass. He gradu- 
ated at Brown University, Providence, R. I., in 1849, an ^ 
studied theology with Bishop Henshaw, of the same city. 
He was admitted into the order of deacon by Bishop Hen- 
shaw, in Grace Church, Providence, July 1, 1852, and into 
the order of the priesthood, in the same church, by Bishop 
Williams of Connecticut, August 30, 1853. Dr. Mills was 
called to his first charge as rector of St. Peter's, Mauton, 
R. I., where he continued for eight years, and then became 
rector of the Church of the Messiah, in Providence, remain- 
ing less than two years. In November, i860, he became 
rector of St. Mary's, Dorchester, Mass., where he remained 
for fourteen years, and in 1874 removed to Erie, Pa., and 
was rector of St. Paul's in that city for nearly six years. 
He became rector of St. Paul's, Yonkers, February 1, 1880. 

Rev. Dr. Mills is known as a faithful and assiduous 
minister of the gospel of our blessed Lord. During his 
rectorship St N Paul's Church has greatly increased in mem- 
bership, and the present spiritual and temporal prosperity 
of the church is due largely to his energy, fearlessness, and 
tireless activity. His characteristics as a man and as a 
Christian pastor are summed up in these four words — ear- 
nestness, constancy, unselfishness, and fidelity. Dr. Mills 
has not only the loving regard of the members of his own 
church and congregation, but that of a large circle of 
friends outside of his own parish, who esteem him for his 
faithful and energetic labors for the Master. 

When the Rev. Dr. Mills entered upon the rectorship of 
St. Paul's parish the indebtedness of the church was $5,000, 
which had been incurred since the consecration of the 
church in 1865, to meet its annual expenses. During his 
rectorship the floating debt of about $2,000 has been paid, 
and the yearly expenses of the church have been prompt- 
ly met. Provision^ was also made for the mortgage debt, 



ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 333 

which is being paid at the rate of § 1,000 per year. There 
is no other debt upon the church property. 

The interior of the church has been greatly improved 
by the addition of a new and much larger and more con- 
venient chancel, which was removed from the east to the 
west end of the auditorium. A new Sunday-school room 
has also been added, with a library room and a guild room, 
and extensive repairs were made in the old building. The 
cost of these improvements was $7,000. The church was 
opened for service, after the last improvements, on Sunday, 
November 20, 1887, when an appropriate sermon, from 
Psalm 26:8, on "the love of God's house," was preached 
by the rector. 

A bazaar for the benefit of the church was held at " Sunny 
Bank," Locust Hill Avenue, for three days, beginning Mon- 
day, April 22, 1889. The decorations were an attractive 
feature of this fair. The young ladies in attendance were 
dressed in peasant costumes of different countries. The 
St. Agnes Guild had a very attractive table and was one of 
the prettiest features of the bazaar. The art room also at- 
tracted much attention. The various committees filled 
their respective places with dignity and grace. This was 
the first fair held by St. Paul's parish, and was in every 
way a great success : $900 were realized therefrom and ap- 
plied to the liquidation of the debt of the church. 

A brief centennial service of praise was held in St. 
Paul's Church on Monday, April 29, 1889, the Rev. Dr. Mills, 
rector of the church, conducting it. This service was ap- 
pointed by Bishop Horatio Potter. 

St. Paul's Church is the parent of the prosperous Christ 
Episcopal Church of this city. In February, 1871, the cor- 
dial sanction of the vestry of St. Paul's was given for the 
organization of another parish in the town of Yonkers, 
now known as Christ parish. 

St. Paul's Church has always been distinguished for its 
liberal giving and for its power to rise above discourage- 
ment. Its people are now interested and are earnestly 
engaged in Christian work. It has excellent material and 
many elements of strength, and has before it, if true to 
its object, a career of great usefulness. There are con- 



334 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

nected with the church several societies, viz : the " Wo- 
men's Auxiliary to the General Missionary Society," the 
" Parochial Society," the " Saint Agnes Guild," and the 
" Girls' Friendly Society." It also has an industrial school, 
which is efficiently carried on by the rector's wife and 
members of the parish. A very successful mothers'. meet- 
ing has been held by Mrs. Mills for a number of years, 
which has been productive of great good to those who 
attended it. 

The Yonkers " Nursery and Home," which has become 
one of the most beneficent and useful public institutions 
in the city, was founded by Mrs. J. H. Clark, who was a 
member of St. Paul's parish, and who promised to be re- 
sponsible for the rent of rooms for the purpose proposed. 
It was opened in a small house on Carlisle Place, near the 
factories, on St. Paul's Day, January 25, 1881. A little boy 
named Paul entered on that day as its first boarder. The 
plan of its founder was to provide a place where children 
too young to go to school might be safely left and cared 
for while the mother was away from home at her day's 
work. 

On the first of May, about four months from the open- 
ing, the nursery was removed to a house finely located on 
the corner of Ashburton and Palisade Avenues, and a 
home for old women was provided, and it soon came, by 
common consent, to be called the " Nursery and Home." 
Three hundred and twenty -five children under eight years 
of age have been received as its inmates since its organ- 
ization. The Rev. Dr. Mills, rector of St. Paul's Church, has 
always taken a deep and active interest in its prosperity 
and continues so to do. For several years he always pre- 
sided at the monthly meetings of the Board of Managers. 

This charitable institution was incorporated in May, 
1884, under the title of " The Yonkers Nursery and Home." 
The following persons were the incorporators : the Rev. W. 
H. Mills, D. D., Dr. Samuel Swift, E. M. Le Moyne, Chas. 
W. Seymour, S. E. Simonds, Mrs. John H. Clark, Mrs. O. E. 
Hosmer, Mrs. A. M. Brereton, and Mrs. H. G. McDonald. 

Its officers are, President, the Rev. W. H. Mills, D. D.; 
Vice-President, the Rev. A. B. Carver ; Secretary, Thomas 



ST. PAULS EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 335 

G. Hillhouse ; Treasurer, Henry A. Smith ; Auditing Com- 
mittee, Jacob R. Reese, Thomas G. Hillhouse. 

Board of Trustees, the Rev. W. H. Mills, D. D., the 
Rev. A. B. Carver, Mrs. A. M. Brereton, Mrs. H. G. Mc- 
Donald, Jacob R. Reese, Henry A. Smith, Thomas G. Hill- 
house, Allen L. Smidt, J. Halsey Curtis. 

Officers of the Board of Managers are : President, the 
Rev. W. H. Mills, D. D. ; Secretary, Mrs. J. Foster Jen- 
kins ; Treasurer, Mrs. H. G. McDonald ; House Mother, 
Mrs. Ellen Dundas. Board of Managers : Mrs. A. M. Bre- 
reton, Mrs. W. H. Mills, Mrs. H. G. McDonald, Miss L. R. 
Brereton, Miss F. M. Middleton, Mrs. J. Foster Jenkins, 
Mrs. A. C. Curtis, Mrs. Isabella E. Burnham, Mrs. August 
Ulmann, Mrs. Jay C. Smith, Mrs. V. P. Humason, Miss 
Edith E. Belknap, Mrs. Edward Tatum, Mrs. A. B. Carver. 
Dr. Samuel Swift and Dr. A. C. Benedict, consulting ph.y- 
sicans. Dr. Henry Moffat, attending physician. 

The church has also a " Helping Hand Society." 

The rectors of St. Paul's Church since its organization 
have been : Rev. D. R. Brewer, from January 11, 1859, to 
July 31, 1866; Rev. U. T. Tracy, from October 1, 1866, to 
October 4, 1869 ; Rev. S. G. Fuller, from December 9, 1869, 
to February i, 1871 ; Rev. D. F. Banks, from April 21, 
1871, to January 31, 1876; Rev. C. Maurice Wines, from 
May 2, 1876, to October 27, 1879; Rev. W. H. Mills, D. D., 
from February 1, 1880, to date. 

The parish register, at the twenty-fifth anniversary of 
the church, 1883, gives the following statistics: baptisms, 
414; confirmations, 261 ; marriages, no; burials, 220; pres- 
ent number of communicants, 216. 

PAROCHIAL STATISTICS SEPTEMBER I, 189O. 

Number of souls - 5°3 

Baptisms 3° 

Confirmed 13 

Marriages - - - 2 

Burials 19 

Communicants - 232 

Expenditures. Total for all objects, 1890, $8,010 96. 

The officers of the church are : William H. C. Bartlett 
and W. Dele van Baldwin, wardens ; J. Foster Jenkins, A. 



336 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

P. W. Kinnan, Robert H. Neville, J. W. Clark, Jr., A. L. 
Walker, Charles P. Easton, J. Halsey Curtis, and W. J. 
Wright, vestrymen. The clerk of the vestry, A. L. Walker ; 
the treasurer, J. Foster Jenkins. 

The number of communicants in St. Paul's to the pres- 
ent date, 1 89 1, is 240 ; number of souls, 520. 

The following are the officers and members of the 
Altar Society of St. Paul's parish, January, 1890: Mrs. H. 
McDonald, President ; Miss S. C. Miller, Secretary ; Miss 
Helen R. Croes, Treasurer. 

The communion service is of solid silver, and consists 
of a flagon, two chalices, paten, and service plate. On the 
flagon is inscribed : " Ladies of the Prescott Seminary to 
Saint Paul's Church, Yonkers," and the Scripture verse, in 
old English : " On earth peace, good-will to men." The 
service plate has the following inscription : " The gift of 
Mrs. Charlotte S. Brewer." In the centre is the monogram 
" I. H. S.," and on the border, " Holy, holy, holy, Lord God 
of Hosts." The paten bears this inscription : " The gift 
of Mary Rhinelander Stewart to St. Paul's Church. ' Glory 
to God in the highest.' " The chalices bear the following 
inscriptions : " The gift of Mary Rhinelander Stewart. ' I 
will receive the cup of salvation.' " " The gift of Catherine 
D. Spalding to St. Paul's Church. ' And I will call upon the 
name of the Lord.' " 

The pulpit Bible is from the Cambridge Press. It is 
elegantly bound in red morocco and was the gift of the 
ladies of the church. On the altar service books is in- 
scribed: "Given Easter, 1883. St. Paul's Church." On the 
baptismal font, which is of white marble, is inscribed these 
words : " By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body." 

The recipient alms basin, which is of gold, bears the 
inscription : " To St. Paul's Church, Yonkers, N. Y. Easter, 
1883. In loving memory of Charlotte Louise Jackson." In 
the centre of the basin on a large star is the monogram 
" I. H. S." On the border is inscribed : " The Lord remem- 
ber all thine offerings." On the alms basins, which are of 
silver, are these inscriptions : on the one : " Ladies of Pres- 
cott Seminary to St. Paul's Church. ' He that soweth plen- 
teously shall reap plenteously,' " which sentence is placed 



ST. PAULS EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 337 

between two Greek crosses. And on the centre is the 
monogram " I. H. S." And on the other : " Gift of Mary 
Anstice to St. Paul's Church, Yonkers. ' Give alms of thy 
goods and never turn thy face from any poor man,' " 
between two Greek crosses, and the monogram " I. H. S." 

The handsome windows in the chancel, representing 
" Luke, the beloved physician," " Saint Elizabeth of Hun- 
gary," and "the conversion of St. Paul," which forms 
the centre of the group, were erected in memory of J. 
Foster Jenkins, M. D., and his wife by their friends. Un- 
derneath the first two mentioned is inscribed : " May, 1885, 
October, 1882." They are rich in design and were made 
in London, England, by Messrs. Eaton, Baine & Butler. 

The brass memorial cross on the re-table was presented 
by Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Seymour. On it is inscribed : 
" In loving memory of our son, Charles Holmes Seymour ; 
baptized August 30, 1868 ; confirmed June 7, 1882 ; entered 
into rest September 16, 1883. ' Glory be to the Father and 
to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. Amen.' " In the centre 
of the cross is the monogram " I. H. S." 

The brass altar desk bears this inscription : " In me- 
moriam. Helen Robertson Croes. Presented by her chil- 
dren, 1885." In the centre is a star upon which is inscribed 
"I. H. S." 

A recent gift are the brass altar flower vases, given in 
memory of S. Howard Howes, Jr., who entered into life 
everlasting on the evening of February 15, 1889. They bear 
this inscription : " In memoriam. S. Howard Howes, Jr., 
February 15, 1889. I- H - S." 

In 1876 a choir of men and boys was established by 
Mr. Le Jeune. It subsequently was under the direction of 
Edward P. Chase, who for a number of years served the 
church as its organist most efficiently and acceptably. Mr. 
Chase was succeeded by Alfred W. Griffin, who received 
his first as well as his more advanced instruction from 
Prof. Chase. Mr. Griffin served five years. Miss Eliza- 
beth Edmonston is the present organist and director. The 
music is led by a boy choir of thirty voices. 

Sunday services at St. Paul's Church are at 10:45 A. m. 
and 4 P. M. The communion, first Sunday of each month. 

Sunday-school Work. 22 



338 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The seating capacity of the church is between six 
hundred and seven hundred. 

William Nugent, sexton, has served the church in that 
capacity efficiently since January, 1882. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

St. Paul's Sunday-school owes its establishment largely 
to the efforts of Henry Anstice, senior warden of the 
church, by whom it was organized in the summer of 1858. 

Mr. Anstice was appointed superintendent by the rec- 
tor, the Rev. D. R. Brewer, and was assisted by the follow- 
ing teachers : William Beal, Henry Beal, John N. Stearns, 
Edward Martin, Mr. Oakley, William Woodworth, Miss 
Davids, Miss Kate Woodworth, Miss Annie Anstice, Miss 
Clara Pettie, and the Misses Atkins. 

The first session of the school was held in Humboldt 
Hall, opposite the Getty House, in Mechanic Street, now 
New Main Street. 

In the spring of 1859 the school removed to a hall in 
the Getty House. In its early days it was largely a mis- 
sion school in its character, gathering in many who did not 
attend any Sunday-school. It numbered the first year one 
hundred scholars. 

In the autumn of 1859 it was removed to Farrington 
Hall, Getty Square, and occupied that hall until it was 
removed to the new church in the spring of i860. 

At the beginning of the second year the number of 
pupils increased to nearly two hundred. After the second 
year the numbers decreased considerably, owing to the re- 
moval of teachers and the establishment of other Sunday- 
schools in the town. 

After its removal to the new church edifice, the Sun- 
day-school increased in numbers and in influence. A Sun- 
day-school library was gathered in response to an appeal 
from the rector from the pulpit, who requested the children 
to bring their own books for the foundation of the library. 
The children of Mrs. Harriet A. Johnston donated one 
hundred volumes, nearly all the books being received 
from their respective teachers, either in Sunday or day- 
school. Some of them were also books which had been 



ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 339 

given them on Christmas. Others in the congregation re- 
sponded willingly and liberally, and by this means quite a 
handsome library was procured for the Sunday-school 
without expense. The school now became self-supporting. 

The first singing book used by the school was " Sabbath 
Bells," by William Bradbury, and the Sunday-school paper 
distributed was the "Sunday-school Banner," published by 
the American Sunday-school Union. 

The interesting little daughter of Edward and Harriet 
Johnston, who was a member of the primary class of this 
school, and who took special interest in contributing books 
for the library, was very suddenly summoned to the " Happy 
Land " which she loved to talk and sing about. A tender, 
impressive, and large funeral was held in St. John's Church, 
on Saturday, April 28, i860. The members of St. Paul's 
and St. John's Schools attended in a body, and of the class 
in the day school of which she was a loved member. The 
Rev. Dr. Carter, rector of St. John's Church, and the Rev. 
D. R. Brewer, her own rector, officiated. 

The Sunday-school for nine years numbered from 175 
to 200. In 1865 it numbered 265. 

The school has enjoyed many pleasant hours spent in 
Frederick Shonnard's woods. One picnic, held there on 
Tuesday, August 25, 1868, will long be remembered with 
pleasure. "The day was gloriously fine. A gentleman 
who had occasion to watch the weather indications observed 
that there had been but two such days since April. The 
school assembled at the church at nine o'clock. At ten 
o'clock they started for a straw ride in five large wagons. 
The first of these carried their beautiful school banner, 
designed and made especially for them by Capt. E. W. 
Jenkins, and the last wagon carried the stars and stripes. 
Accompanying them were the rector, the Rev. U. T. Tracy, 
and the superintendent, Charles W. Seymour, and a large 
representation of the teachers and ladies of the congre- 
gation. After a charming ride, which was enlivened by the 
glad notes of their young, tuneful voices, awakening the 
echoes of the green fields and harvest-laden country as they 
proceeded merrily on their way, they shaped their course 
to some woods belonging to Mr. Shonnard, which he had 



340 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

generously and kindly placed at their disposal for the pur- 
pose, and where a collation was supplied by the ladies of 
the church and parents of the children, which was speedily 
spread out in a cool, shady, and mossy spot. After enjoying 
themselves among the woodlands and with various games, 
in which some of the older persons united, at four o'clock 
they started for home, returning about five o'clock, p. M., 
well pleased with their day of rare enjoyment, not a single 
thing occurring to mar the pleasure of their trip." 

Another picnic held by the school was at Iona Island 
on the Hudson River. 

The Christmas festival of 1868 was held in the church 
on Tuesday evening, at 6 : 30 o'clock. At the entrance of the 
chancel and facing the centre aisle stood the Christmas tree, 
charmingly ornamented with gifts for the scholars. Its 
beauty was enhanced by skilful manipulation of the cal- 
cium light with which it was illuminated, causing it to 
assume a variety of colors. The care which had been taken 
in the dressing of the tree was anything but lost in the 
effect which its beautiful appearance produced. Carols 
were sung by the scholars. The rector, the Rev. U. T. Tracy, 
addressed the children, as did also the superintendent, 
Charles W. Seymour. The exercises closed with the singing 
of the recessional carol, and old and young were seemingly 
well pleased with the evening's entertainment. 

The following is a printed statistical report of St. Paul's 
School in the centennial year, December, 1876 : Officers, 4; 
teachers, 1 7 ; scholars on register, 212; average attendance, 
160; largest attendance, 200; number in primary depart- 
ment, 68; volumes in library, 600; receipts, $550; expen- 
ditures, $548. Chas. W. Seymour, Superintendent ; J. P. 
Williams, Secretary ; George lies, Librarian ; Thomas Bre- 
reton, Assistant Librarian ; Mrs. D. F. Banks, teacher of Bi- 
ble class ; Mrs. Thomas B. Pitman, Mrs. Orphen, Mrs. Sear- 
cey, Mrs. Chandler, Miss M. Curran, Miss Middleton, Miss 
Brereton, Miss Julia Ritter, Miss Belle Runk, Miss Mary 
McCoy, Miss Getty, Miss E. Getty, J. P. Wells, J. McCoy, 
and Mr. Orphen, teachers. 

The Young Men's Guild connected with St. Paul's 
Church and Sunday-school was organized March 16, 1886. 



ST. PAULS EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 34I 

Its object is to promote the spiritual, intellectual, and social 
benefit of its members and interest them in the work of 
the parish. The officers of the Guild, February, 1S89, were : 
Charles Philip Easton, President ; Wm. J. Wright, Vice- 
President ; Wm. J. Moore, Secretary ; Upson Van Varick, 
Treasurer. 

The Young Men's Guild sustained a severe loss by the 
sudden removal by death of one of its members, S. Howard 
Howes, Jr., on February 15, 1889. Mr. Howes was a youth 
of excellent Christian character, and a most useful and 
efficient member of the Guild. He was greatly beloved by 
all who knew him. It was a large and tender funeral on 
Sunday afternoon, February 23, 1889, in St. Paul's Church, 
all sorrowing because they should see his face no more. 
About forty of his fellow railroad attaches at Forty-second 
Street came to Yonkers in a body and attended the funeral, 
brinmnor with them a floral broken column. The Rev. Dr. 
Mills, his rector, officiated. 

A meeting of the young men of the parish of St. Paul's 
Episcopal Church was held in the Guild room Thursday 
evening, September 26, 1889, at which the parish Guild was 
reorganized upon a new basis. The Rev. Dr. W. H. Mills 
presided. A Constitution was adopted, and the following 
officers elected : the Rev. Dr. Mills, President ; Charles P. 
Easton, Vice-President ; Wm. J. Moore, Secretary ; Wm. J. 
Wright, Treasurer. Meetings of the organization are held 
on the first, second, and fourth Thursdays in each month. 

St. Paul's Church and Sunday-school has also a young 
women's guild which is called the " St. Agnes Guild," and 
which was organized in the autumn of 1880. It is man- 
aged by a committee of ladies from the Parochial Society. 
Mrs. J. Q. A. Johnson, Mrs. W. H. King, and Mrs. Val- 
entine Marsh are the managers. The first work of the St. 
Agnes Guild was to make clothing for the needy children 
of the " Yonkers Xursery and Home," and since to do 
other missionary work connected with the parish under 
the direction of the managers. The present officers of St, 
Agnes' Guild are : Mrs. J. Q. A. Johnson, President and 
Chairman of Committees-, Miss W. H. King, Secretary 
and Treasurer. 



342 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The Christmas festival for 1887 was held on Thursday 
evening in the church as usual. The children with the 
teachers entered the church from the basement singing 
the processional, "Christ is born." After an address by 
the rector, Rev. W. H. Mills, D. D., and the singing of the 
carol, "Joyfully, joyfully, silvery clear," the rector, assisted 
by the superintendent, W. J. Wright, distributed the gifts 
to the pupils. 

The presentation of a fine etching, representing one of 
the beautiful paths leading to Christ College, England, by 
the superintendent, Mr. Wright, in behalf of the teachers, 
to the rector, was a pleasant feature of the celebration. A 
beautiful Christmas tree, made still more beautiful by the 
calcium light, carols well sung, and the happy faces of 
the children, made a very bright setting for the joyous occa- 
sion. 

The teacher of the young ladies' Bible-class, which 
numbered at one time from twelve to fifteen young ladies, 
is Miss Mary A. Neilson. This class, assisted by others, 
held a fair on April 18, 1888, the proceeds of which were 
given towards providing a home in the country for a number 
of poor children during part of the heated term. This is a 
private charity undertaken by Miss Neilson, who is assisted 
by some of her personal friends who have been engaged in 
this benevolent work for five years. This fair was under 
the direction of Mrs. Samuel Swift, Mrs. J. Fowler Trow, 
Mrs. Stephen H. Thayer, Jr., Miss M. A. Neilson, Miss 
L. G. Crocker, and Miss H. Hollister. It was a great suc- 
cess, financially and socially, about $300 clear of expenses 
being realized. 

The primary department of this school was taught by 
Miss Flotilla Wells Johnston (now Mrs. F. W. .Thomas) 
very successfully for more than fifteen years. It numbered 
between forty and fifty pupils. The efficient superintend- 
ent of the department now is the rector's wife, Mrs William 
H. Mills, who has had charge of it for five years. It meets 
in a small room adjoining the main Sunday-school room, 
and numbers thirty-five pupils. Instruction is given from 
the " Christian Primer for Little Ones." The Command- 
ments, Creed, and the Lord's Prayer are also taught. The 



ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 343 

contributions of this class are given to the general funds of 
the Sunday-school. 

At the Christmas festival held Friday evening, Decem- 
ber 27, 1889, a full choral service was rendered: organist 
Alfred Griffin and a chorus of eighteen boys and ten young 
gentlemen composing the excellent choir. The Rev. Dr. 
Mills, the rector, was assisted by the Rev. Alexander 
Forbes. 

Appropriate addresses were made by Dr. Mills, and 
the Superintendent, Charles P. Easton. 

There was a beautiful Christmas tree, illuminated with 
calcium lights, and the scholars were made happy with 
handsome gifts of books, games, toys, fruits, and cornu- 
copias of candy. 

The rector received a handsome book from the teach- 
ers of the school. 

There is also a branch of the King's Daughters called 
the Wayside Workers' Branch, which is composed of some 
of the members of the young ladies' Bible-class and which is 
also under the direction of Miss M. A. Neilson. This branch 
gave an entertainment, which consisted of tableaux and 
vocal music, at Music Hall, March 2, 1889, which was under 
the management of several prominent Yonkers ladies and 
George B. Bartlett. The proceeds were given to Miss 
M. A. Neilson's annual summer work of taking destitute 
children into the country. The members of the Way- 
side Workers are also doing excellent work in other direc- 
tions. 

The Easter festival of 1889 was observed with appro- 
priate exercises in the church on Sunday afternoon. The 
children and teachers marched from the Sunday-school 
room into the church singing the processional carol. 
They were preceded by the members of the choir, one of 
whom carried a beautiful floral cross, which was placed in 
the choir. Brief remarks were made by the rector, Dr. 
Mills. 

An interesting feature of that festival was the presen- 
tation to the children of the Sunday-school, by their super- 
intendent, Charles Philip Easton, of centennial certificates. 
" These certificates were issued that year by the Domestic 



344 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

and Foreign Missionary Society of the Episcopal Church, 
and were given to each member of the Sunday-school in the 
church as a reminder that they, as baptized members of 
the church, are declared to be members of the Domestic and 
Foreign Missionary Society of the church, and therefore 
are bound to support its work. The especial reason for 
issuing the certificate that year was because it was a hundred 
years since the church was organized in America and the 
centennial General Convention of the Episcopal Church — 
which convention assembles once in every three years. For 
this reason it was called a centennial certificate, and is to be 
kept as a memento of the centennial birth of the Episcopal 
Church and of our country." The whole number of centen- 
nial certificates issued to children of the Protestant Episco- 
pal Church Sunday-schools was 190,500. St. Paul's Sunday- 
school was well represented in this grand missionary offer- 
ing of the Sunday-schools of the Episcopal Church. 

A part of the Lenten offering on Easter day was also 
appropriated for decorating the walls of their Sunday- 
school room and for procuring new furniture for it. When 
these improvements are made, their Sunday-school room 
will be as pleasant and attractive an any in the city. 

Miss Mary A. Croes has been connected with St. Paul's 
Sunday-school for seventeen years, and is among the hon- 
orary list of Sunday-school workers in Yonkers. 

This Sunday-school supported a pupil in Bishop Tur- 
tle's school in Utah for five years. 

A fair for the benefit of the Sunday-school was held 
at the residence of Miss Lucy G. Crocker, 187 North Broad- 
way, April 3, 1889. A beautiful organ and a fine library 
consisting of five hundred volumes was purchased with the 
proceeds of this fair. 

The Christmas festival of the Sunday-school of 1890 
was held in the church Tuesday evening, December 29, at 
7 o'clock. The church was well filled and looked beautiful 
in its Christmas decorations. Standing in front of the 
chancel was a stately tree, reaching almost to the very 
top of the building, and resplendent in glittering orna- 
ments and presents. 

The children entered the church from the Sunday 



ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 345 

school room, headed by the choir, largely composed of boys 
belonging- to the school, and singing the processional carol. 
The services consisted of the carols, a lesson from the Bible, 
and prayers. The Rev. Dr. William H. Mills conducted the 
services, and was assisted by the Rev. Alexander Forbes 
and Alfred W. Griffin. 

Dr. Mills, the rector, and Charles Philip Easton, the 
Superintendent of the school, made appropriate addresses. 
The lights were then turned down, and a calcium light was 
thrown upon the tree. The colors of light were frequently 
changed by the operator, much to the delight of the chil- 
dren. 

Before distributing the gifts to the children, Mr. Eas- 
tonj on behalf of the school, presented to Dr. Mills a hand- 
some set of books, and to Miss Edmonston, the organist, 
who had kindly trained the children in singing the carols, 
a silver pen. 

The children each received a present, and beside, fruit 
and confectionery. The gifts consisted of skates, games, 
books, dolls, plush boxes, and all kinds of toys. Superim 
tendent Easton received a handsome silver pencil from 
the school. 

The children marched back to their room singing 
the recessional, "Oh, blessed Lord," and thus ended one 
of the most enjoyable and profitable Christmas festivals 
St. Paul's Sunday-school ever held. 

St. Paul's Sunday-school represents for the most part 
those children of the church who were baptized in infancy 
and who have been instructed in the confirmation class by 
the rector. Therefore a very large proportion of the com- 
municants in the parish were instructed in the Sunday- 
school. More than one hundred of the communicants of 
St. Paul's Church during the rectorship of the Rev. Dr. Mills 
have come from the Sunday-school. 

Alfred W. Griffin, a former pupil of the Sunday-school, 
entered the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal 
Church in New York, September, 1889. 

The number of scholars in Sunday-school is 180, Jan- 
uary, 1890. 

The superintendents of St. Paul's Sunday-school are 



346 . CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

always appointed by the rector of the parish. The names 
of the superintendents of St. Paul's Sunday-school, in their 
order of service, are as follows : Henry Anstice, who was 
the first superintendent, elected in 1858; John N. Stearns, 
William Beal, Charles W. Seymour, who served for eighteen 
years — 1868 to 1886 — W. G. Wright, and the present superin- 
tendent, Charles Philip Easton, who was appointed under 
the rectorship of the Rev. William H. Mills, D. D., Decem- 
ber, 1887. 

The officers of the school are Charles Philip Easton, 
Superintendent ; Wm. J. Moore, Secretary and Treasurer ; 
Miss Kittie Harris, Organist, Miss Mary Croes, Librarian, 
Thomas Hale, Assistant Librarian. The teachers are Mrs. 
William H. Mills, Miss Mary A. Neilson, Miss E. D. Brere- 
ton, Miss Emily C. Brereton, Miss H. S. Warren, Miss 
Helen Hollister, Miss C. Whitney, Miss Hattie McDonald, 
Miss Annie J. Watson, Miss Marion Scribner, Miss S. C. 
Mills, Miss Mary S. Jenkins, Miss Knapp, Miss M. Clark, 
Miss Sophia Shonnard, and Messrs. William J. Moore and 
William J. Wright. 

The young men's Bible-class is taught by William J. 
Wright. 

The Sunday-school helps used by the school are " Sun- 
day-school Service Book," the " Complete Manual of Sun- 
day-school Instruction," by Rev. E. L. Stoddard, Ph. D., 
the "Church Catechism," and the "Christian Primer for 
the Little Ones," approved by Right Rev. Henry A. Neely, 
D. D., Bishop of Maine. The Sunday-school hymn book 
is "The Children's Hymn Book," arranged in the order of 
the church year and published under the revision of the 
Right Revs. Drs. Howe, Oxender, and Ellerton. The Sun- 
day-school paper is " The Young Christian Soldier." 



NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 347 

CHAPTER XIII. 

THE NEPPERHAN AVENUE BAPTIST MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL.* 

This Sunday-school, formerly known as the Spring 
Street Mission Sunday-school, was founded in November, 
1863, under the following interesting circumstances. Rev. 
Edward Bright, D. D., Editor of the " New York Examiner," 
who had a few months previously become a resident of Yon- 
kers, being impressed with the necessity of Christian effort 
in the behalf of the residents in the eastern part of what 
was then the village of Yonkers, proposed the starting of a 
mission Sunday-school in that locality. This proposition 
was warmly seconded by his three daughters. 

Preparatory to the organization of the school, Rev. 
Dr. Bright, in company with Isaiah Anderson, spent the 
evenings of several weeks in ascertaining the number of 
children occupying the houses in that district and in con- 
sidering plans how to reach them. At the suggestion of 
Dr. Bright practical measures were taken to ascertain the 
number of children without Sunday-school instruction liv- 
ing in the district, and Rev. Henry Bromley, now the mis- 
sionary pastor of the Greenwood Baptist Church at Brook- 

* The Nepperhan Avenue Baptist Church was organized June 22, 1S91, 
with forty -one members, all of whom came from the Warburton Avenue 
Baptist Church. 

On August 26 of the same year twenty-five took letters of dismission 
from the mother church. On June 25, 1891, the first church prayer-meeting 
was held ; Deacon Dinsmore, of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, led 
it. Forty were in attendance. On July 7, 1891, trustees were elected un- 
der the law of 1813. 

On Sunday evening, July 26, 1891, the Warburton Avenue Baptist 
Church closed its evening service, and its pastor, the Rev. Alvah S. Hobart, 
D. D., preached the opening sermon at the new church to the united con- 
gregations. The organization of the new church met the hearty approval 
of the pastor and deacons and trustees of the Warburton Avenue Baptist 
Church. The free use of the building has been granted to the new church, 
and services are now regularly held. A call has been extended by the 
church to the Rev. H. M. Warren, of New York, to become its pastor, 
which has been accepted. The present — September, 1891 — membership of 
this church is seventy-five. The Rev. Mr. Warren was ordained Nov. 5, '91. 



348 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

lyn, N. Y., was invited to make a personal visitation at the 
homes and to present the subject of the formation of a 
Sunday-school. 

The proposal met with a cordial response among the 
families in that vicinity. At the same time, in accordance 
with the suggestion of Dr. Bright and others, Mr. Bromley 
invited the children to a picnic which was held in a large 
grove of oak-trees on the south side of Nodine Hill, on 
Saturday afternoon previous to the opening of the school 
on the following Sunday. Every one enjoyed the picnic 
and it inspired much interest and enthusiasm among the 
children and youth, who came together one hundred strong. 
The first place of meeting of the Sunday-school was in a 
small room in a brick building which was known as the 
skin factory, located near the corner of Nepperhan Avenue 
and Mechanic Street (now New Main Street). This room 
was called Grant's Hall, and became memorable in connec- 
tion with the history of the organization of the Westminster 
Presbyterian Church of this city. 

The first day of the gathering of the children was spent 
in considering plans for organization and brief addresses to 
the children, and was known as a children's meeting. The 
Sunday-school was opened for active work on the second 
Sunday of November, 1863, with one hundred pupils, and 
the following persons who can be recalled, were present on 
that occasion : Rev. Dr. Bright, Misses Mary, Matilda, and 
Amelia Bright, Miss Caroline H. Tripler, Mrs. Emeline 
Manny, Deacon Peter F. Peek, Elias Whipple, Isaiah An- 
derson, John B. Trevor, and Mrs. Louisa S. S. Trevor, all of 
whom offered their services as teachers with the exception 
of the last three mentioned persons. Mrs. S. S. Trevor took 
a warm interest in this new enterprise and aided the work- 
ers with words of cheer and encouragement and financial 
support, and continued so to do until her decease. John 
B. Trevor and Mr. and Mrs. James B. Colgate also pledged 
an annual sum for the support of the school, which they 
continue to this time. 

Rev. Dr. Bright was chosen superintendent and served 
nine years. Isaiah Anderson was elected secretary and 
treasurer, which offices he filled for eight years. 



NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 349 

The Sunday-school occupied Grant's Hall for a few 
Sundays only, and then was removed to a small building 
located on the corner of Brook and Spring Streets, which 
was enlarged twice during the occupancy of the school to 
accommodate the increasing number of scholars. The build- 
ing is at present known as Teutonia Hall. The school 
remained in that building until its removal to the Mission 
Chapel it now occupies on Nepperhan Avenue, near Elm 
Street, and which was constructed of the materials of the 
Mount Olivet Baptist Church, which was left by its people 
for their new church edifice on Warburton Avenue. 

The following is from a printed report of the Spring 
Street Mission Sunday-school for the year ending April, 
1871: "Number of pupils, 518; in Bible-class, 122; infant 
class, 132 ; the largest attendance at any one session, 343. 
School was addressed by Deacon Wm. Holme, the superin- 
tendent of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Sunday-school, 
Mr. Eddy, and Mr. Wescott. The officers are : Rev. Dr. 
E. Bright, Superintendent; A. F. Holmes, Assistant Su- 
perintendent ; A. F. Wescott, Treasurer ; George Umphray, 
Sr., Secretary; Cornelius N. Peek, Librarian ; J. E. H. Fer- 
riss, Assistant Librarian. The teachers are : Mrs. S. T. White, 
Misses Matilda Bright, Caroline H. Tripler, A. B. Cook, A. 
Terpening, Agnes Holme, Lucy Peek, Ella Cady, Mary 
Carey, Sarah Clark, Almira Austin, Hattie R. Umphray, 
Ida Hazen, Messrs. F. Wescott, William N. Bailey, M. Hull, 
James Holme, John Whitney, William Halsey, J. P. Taylor, 
and A. B. See. Miss Mary Bright and Miss Flotilla N. John. 
ston (now Mrs. F. W. Thomas) teachers of the primary 
department. Rev. Dr. Bright teacher of adult Bible-class. 
A. F. Decker teacher of the young ladies' class. Mr. Eddy 
leader of the singing. This school is in a flourishing con- 
dition and is doing a most excellent work on the eastern 
border of our town." 

The Sunday-school was removed to the Mission Chapel 
erected on Nepperhan Avenue and which was opened early 
in the summer of 1872. 

A printed report of the school, December, 1874, shows: 
" Scholars on roll, 327 ; average attendance during the past 
year, 263, an increase of 49 over preceding year; teachers, 



350 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

27 ; volumes in library, 453 : contributed to the poor fund, 
$212 62; shoes for the poor, $99 20; dry goods, $85 50; 
garments distributed, no Officers, John A. Amelung, 
Superintendent ; Thomas H. Messer, Assistant Superintend- 
ent ; Joseph C. Holme, Secretary ; C. W. Peek, Treasurer ; 
Wm. N. Anderson, Librarian ; Miss C. H. Tripler, Treas- 
urer of the Poor Fund." 

The annual Christmas festival was held on Tuesday even- 
ing, December 29, 1874. The walls of the chapel were hand- 
somely festooned with evergreens and frames of the same 
material bearing the inscriptions respectively, " Bethle- 
hem," "Nazareth," "Messiah," "Emmanuel," with the 
figures 1863 in evergreen, being the year in which the 
school was started, and 1874, the present year. The frames 
were each suspended by cords of evergreen. Over the 
platform near the ceiling, " Glory be to God in the highest," 
were the words in evergreen, and under this inscription 
was the star of the east and the words " Merry Christ- 
mas." 

The large tree loaded with presents stood upon the 
platform from which Santa Claus supplied the children. 
Addresses were made by Rev. Wm. T. Burns, pastor of 
the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, and Rev. Dr. Ed- 
ward Bright. Singing by the school and recitations by a 
number of the pupils completed the programme of exer- 
cises on that pleasant occasion. The whole f£te reflected 
most creditably upon John A. Amelung, the superintend- 
ent, and his coadjutors. 

The following is from a printed report of this school 
during the centennial year, February, 1876: "We visited 
the Nepperhan Avenue Baptist Mission Sunday-school last 
Sunday afternoon and found the room crowded with one 
of the best and most orderly assemblies of scholars we 
have ever looked upon. Every teacher was at his or her 
post, and every scholar in his or her seat. The opening of 
the school was a most pleasing feature, and the children 
sang their hymns very sweetly. 

" From John A. Amelung, the superintendent, we obtain 
the following exhibit of the school for the present year : 
Officers, 7; teachers, 28 ; scholars on register, 416; average 



NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 351 

attendance, 286; largest attendance, 416; in infant class, 
180; conversions, 35 ; deaths (one teacher and three pupils), 
4; volumes in library, 458 ; receipts, $3 3 8 71 ; expenditures, 
$322 70 ; receipts for benevolence, $277 39 ; expenditures 
for benevolence, §235 19; cast-off garments distributed, 50. 

" The officers of the school are : John A. Amelung. 
Superintendent ; Thomas H. Messer, Assistant Superintend- 
ent ; Cornelius W. Peek, Secretary ; William Anderson, 
Librarian ; Miss C. H. Tripler, Treasurer of the Poor Fund. 
The teachers are Mrs. John A. Amelung, Miss C. H. Trip- 
ler, Mrs. John S. White, Mrs. W. H. Baldwin, Miss Lillian 
Earl, Miss H. E. Earl, Miss Amy Halsted, Mrs. A. J. Feak- 
ins, Miss Ella See, Miss Lena Leeds, Miss Manila Star, Miss 
Fannie Austin, Miss Carey, Miss Estella Depew, Miss Flor- 
ence Parsons, Miss Belle Van Wagner, Miss Eva Munson, 
Messrs. A. F. Decker, Thomas H. Messer, W. H. Baldwin, 
Ezra L. Manning, Harold Harris, Wm. Papps, Wm. Hal- 
sey, A. J. Feakins, C. H. Callahan, and Wm. Van Kirk." 

In November, 1879, Miss Eva J. Munson, a teacher in 
this school, left Yonkers for San Francisco, from which 
place she sailed for Tokio, her mission field in Japan. On 
October 25 of the same year a farewell reception was given 
to her by the Women's Mission Circle of the Warburton 
Avenue Baptist Church. After an hour of social inter- 
course in the church parlor the company repaired to the 
chapel, where the farewell exercises took place. They were 
informal, impressive, and appropriate. 

After singing a hymn, Rev, H. M. Sanders, the pastor, 
stated the object of the gathering, saying that in his esti- 
mation the departure of one of their number to a foreign 
field of labor called for some such an expression of sympa- 
thy and regard. He then introduced Rev. Dr. Burlingham, 
of Brooklyn, District Secretary of the Missionary Board, who 
congratulated the church on having one who was thought 
worthy by the Master to engage in this labor. Brief ad- 
dresses followed by Mrs. Robert Harris, of New York, Mrs. 
James B. Colgate, President of the Women's Foreign Mis- 
sionary Society of the Southern New York Baptist Asso- 
ciation, Mr. M. F. Decker, Miss Munson, and the benediction 
by Rev. Mr. Sanders. 



352 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Miss Munson was formerly a member of the mission 
band of trie Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, and the 
contributions of the band made four of its members life- 
members of the Foreign Missionary Society of the Baptist 
Church, Miss Munson being one of those so honored. She 
subsequently became the wife of Rev. W. T. White, an 
English missionary laboring in Japan. 

In a quarterly meeting of the Women's Baptist For- 
eign Missionary Society of the Southern New York Associa- 
tion, held in the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church June 
14, 1889, Miss Anna H. Kidder, of Tokio, Japan, who ad- 
dressed the society, gave the following pleasing and grateful 
tribute to the worth of Miss Munson 's character and work 
in her missionary home : " At her marriage with Rev. W. J. 
White she was obliged to relinquish some of her work, 
and we regretted parting with her, for she was a delightful 
church worker, a faithful and hearty worker in everything 
so far as the cares of her large family would permit. She 
has proven a loving and faithful mother to the five mother- 
less children of her husband, besides one of her own. She 
still continues to assist her husband in his work, taking 
charge of the day-school and the Sunday-school in his ab- 
sence. We are proud of her as a mother and as an earnest 
Christian worker." 

Miss Munson was formerly a pupil in Miss Caroline H. 
Tripler's class, as was also Miss Kitty Van Kirk, who is 
now the wife of Rev. Mr. Gillette. The members of her 
class are now bright and active boys, who are making their 
lives tell in works of usefulness. One of them, Elmer J. 
Craft, was formerly the president of the Boys' Branch of 
the Young Men's Christian Association of Yonkers. 

Miss Tripler has been connected with the school for 
over a quarter of a century, as teacher and treasurer of the 
Poor Fund of the school. Her labors in connection with 
the latter department have been most arduous, for all those 
years the care and disposal of the benevolent funds of the 
school have been under her supervision and direction. Dr. 
Phillips, a recent superintendent, speaking of her work, 
observed that " the shoes and dry-goods which had been 
given under hei direction for supplying the needs of the 



NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 353 

destitute scholars of the school here were sufficient to stock 
a large store with either of these commodities." Rev. Dr. 
Bright, in his address at the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 
school, remarked that " the Nepperhan Avenue Baptist 
Mission School would never know the obligations they were 
under to Miss Tripler, who had been a tower of strength 
to it through all the past twenty-five years." A most be- 
fitting recognition of her worth and work was the placing, 
by her associate teachers and the scholars of the schools of 
her picture beside that of Rev. Dr. Bright's, the honored 
founder of the school. The likeness of this revered teacher, 
and that of her missionary pupil, Miss Eva J. Munson, 
which likewise adorns the walls of the chapel, will in the 
coming years be memorials of the work and alms-deeds 
which they have done. 

Miss Caroline H. Tripler 's name stands second on the 
honor roll of Yonkers Sunday-school teachers, the late Miss 
Emeline Hoyt, of the Reformed Sunday-school, being the 
first, for her long and faithful service of forty-three years 
in connection with that school. 

The Mission Chapel was enlarged twice to meet the 
growing demands of the school. The first time of its en- 
largement — which was by an addition to the rear of the 
building — the school, through an arrangement of the build- 
ers, still continued to meet in the chapel. The second time 
it was enlarged the school was held in an unoccupied por- 
tion of the building then known as the " Waring Hat Man- 
ufactory," on Elm Street, which it occupied for three 
months. The committee appointed for the extension of the 
building was composed of Messrs. Decker, Amelung, Feakins, 
Manning, Baldwin, Mrs. J ohn A. East, and Mrs. John White. 

The chapel was reopened, after extensive repairs and 
improvements, on Sunday afternoon, October 18, 1884, 
when a large congregation assembled. Dr. R. Oliver Phil- 
lips, superintendent, presided, Edwin Moore conducted the 
singing, accompanied by John Bright on the cornet. Ad- 
dresses were made by Superintendent Phillips, E. L. Man- 
ning, T. R. Pettingill, Colgate Hoyt, James B. Colgate, 
John B. Trevor, and Rev. Dr. Weston. 

The recent improvements to the chapel, planned by John 

Church and Sunday-school Work. 2 'I 



354 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Jardine, architect, consist of a new gallery, an enlargement 
of the main gallery, etc., by which nearly three hundred 
more pupils can be accommodated. The cost of these im- 
provements was $3,500, of which the Sunday-school con- 
tributed $315. D. and J. Jardine, of New York, were the 
contractors, the mason work was done by J. and G. Stewart, 
and the carpenter work by S. F. Quick. 

Upon the recommendation of R. Oliver Phillips, M. D., 
superintendent, a visiting committee was appointed January, 
1884, the chairman of which was Mrs. A. J. Feakins, who 
was assisted by Misses Lena Leeds, Lizzie East, and Florence 
J. Parsons, who comprised the standing advisory visiting 
committee. Miss Anna Hathaway subsequently was made 
a member. The committee were authorized to appoint a 
sub-committee, the members of which held office for one 
month. The members of the sub-committee collected the 
class cards every Sunday. Upon these cards were written 
the teachers' names and the names and addresses of the ab- 
sent scholars, and the cause of absence, and reported the 
following Sunday to the advisory committee. 

These committees did laborious and excellent work 
which produced a marked effect in retaining and maintain- 
ing the regular and punctual attendance of the scholars. 
Clothing, fuel, and employment were in some cases provi- 
ded for those unable to obtain them. These committees 
continued in the service of the school until the appoint- 
ment, October, 1887, of Miss E. Holmes as the missionary 
visitor of the school. 

The Christmas festival held December 25, 1885, was 
reported as follows : On Tuesday evening the exercises of 
the main school were held. Dr. R. O. Phillips presided in 
his usual cheery manner. Rev. E. P. Farnham, pastor of 
the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, made some very 
happy remarks. After recitations by the children and music 
by John Bright, Santa Claus appeared from a little house 
on the back of the stage. Many presents were given to 
different teachers in the school, and a huge stocking for 
the pastor created a great deal of amusement. After pull- 
ing out any quantity of paper, a box was found containing 
a handsome Waltham gold watch. 



NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 355 

On Wednesday evening the primary department had 
their festival. About 240 little children filed into the room, 
and the friends of the little ones crowded the house. The 
exercises were opened by the reading of the Scriptures by 
one of the children, and prayer by the pastor, after which 
singing and speeches by the little children filled up a happy 
hour. Then Santa Claus appeared from a house that had 
been built upon the platform and made some presents. 
The last one was a large, handsome picture of a little child 
listening to the ticking of a watch. This was given to 
Thomas H. Messer, the superintendent of this department. 
One of the pupils, Ella Manning, made the presentation. 
It was a gift from the children. 

In 1886 an entertainment for the benefit of the Baptist 
churches of Charleston , injured by the earthquake, was given 
under the auspices of the members of the mission and home 
schools in the Mission Chapel. As the result of their efforts 
the young people realized about $60 above expenses. 

In January, 1886, R. Oliver Phillips, M. D., found it 
imperative to resign the superintendency of the school, as 
he was unable to give the time which was necessary to it 
on account of his increasing professional duties. His res- 
ignation was exceedingly regretted and very reluctantly 
accepted by both the teachers and scholars, to whom he 
had endeared himself by his faithful services in their be- 
half. He was succeeded by William H. Belknap. 

The enrolment of pupils in the Sunday-school for 1888 
showed 700 scholars, and the average attendance for each 
Sunday for the first six months of the year was 500 pupils 
and 6y teachers, besides officers. 

A young ladies' prayer-meeting was started by Miss 
S. Jennie Holme (now Mrs. D. Stanton Cady), one of the 
teachers of the school, in December, 1887, which was held 
at 4: 10 P. M., immediately after the close of school, lasting 
not quite an hour. On one Sunday there were more than 
forty present of the teachers and young ladies from the 
Bible-classes of the school. The meeting was led by Miss 
C. L. Manning, the subject being "Trust." Verses from 
the Bible bearing on the subject were given, and the ex- 
ercises were of a deeply interesting character. 



356 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The twenty-fourth anniversary of this school was held 
at the Mission Chapel on Nepperhan Avenue on Sunday 
afternoon, November 13, 1887. 

The programme of exercises was unique and original, 
quite unlike that which it usually presented on such occa- 
sions. There were no addresses by either clergymen or 
laymen. Brief reports of the work accomplished during 
the past year were presented by the officers, which were 
full of facts interestingly and graphically stated, and were 
listened to with pleasure and profit by all who heard them. 

On the wall, behind the superintendent's desk, inscribed 
in old English, were the words, " Twenty-fourth Anniver- 
sary." Underneath this inscription hung the portrait of 
Rev. Dr. Edward Bright, one of the founders and the 
first superintendent of this school, who will ever be held in 
grateful remembrance for his labor of love in this field ; 
also the portrait of John A. Amelung, the superintendent 
greatly beloved, who has " entered into the joy of his Lord " 
and is now before the throne of God among those who 
have been redeemed from the earth and who sing the " new 
song" " unto God and unto the Lamb." 

On the platform were Rev. H. B. Grose, acting pastor 
of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, Dr. R. Oliver 
Phillips, a former superintendent, Edwin Moore, leader of 
the singing, John Bright and his son, William Bright, cor- 
netist, Miss Hattie Middlebrook, who presided at the piano, 
and the superintendent, William H. Belknap. 

The primary department, with its superintendent, 
Franklin Airey, and teachers, occupied the front seats of 
the audience-room and the seats under the north and south 
galleries, while the remaining space of the audience-room 
and the east gallery was filled to its utmost capacity by the 
adult members of the school and their friends and visitors 
from other Sunday-schools. 

The number of teachers and scholars of the school who 
were present was 702. 

The exercises began promptly at 2 : 30 o'clock, and 
were opened by singing the first hymn on the programme, 
beginning : 



NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 357 

We gather rejoicing, we gather once more, 
Where Jesus so kindly has met us before. 

This was followed by the reading of the Scriptures 
from the second chapter of Second Timothy, 1— 1 5, by Dr. 
Phillips, after which prayer was offered by Rev. H. B. 
Grose, acting pastor of the Warburton Avenue Baptist 
Church. 

Hymn No. 2, " Praise ye the Lord," was then sung, 
followed by questions " On Our School," which were asked 
by the superintendent and which were answered by W. 
W. Middlebrook, A. J. Feakins, Augustus Desgrey, Elmer 
Manning, Roland Belknap, Charles Ackerman, E. L. Man- 
ning, Wm. Papps, Miss Bertha Odell, Miss Annie Kipp, Miss 
Beulah Messer, and Miss Newman. 

The primary department then sang " Our Work for 
Jesus." Miss Mattie Warren presided at the piano, and 
W. W. Middlebrook led them in singing. 

Then followed the report of the primary department 
by its superintendent, Franklin Airey, who stated the full 
attendance of that department for 1887 to be 11,701 ; aver- 
age, 188; highest, 281. The collections during the year 
were $185 13, divided as follows: Christmas offering for 
Home for Aged Ministers, $23 ; piano fund, $17 55 ; Sunday 
collections, $144 58. 

The report of the secretary, George T. Leeds, stated 
that the school had so increased that it became necessary 
to create a new office, that of assistant superintendent, to 
which Albert J. Feakins was duly elected. The total num- 
ber attending for the past year was 28,455 I largest attend- 
ance, 670: smallest, 228; average, 545. Four scholars 
had removed from the city, three died during the year, and 
sixy-one had left the school. There were forty-four classes 
on the main floor, seven in the galleries, and twenty-three 
in the primary department. Among the interesting items 
of this report was the following : " And as evidence that God 
is ever guiding and prospering us as a school, thirty mem- 
bers thereof have joined the church by baptism, and others 
to our knowledge are ready to follow those who have led 
the way." 

The hymn " Oh sing the passing years " followed, after 



358 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

which the report of E. L. Manning, Treasurer of the school, 
for the year ending November 13, 1887, was read, giving 
these figures: Total expenses, $634 10, of which $217 78 
went to the Baptist Publication Society for books, papers, 
etc., other items being for music, missionary work, and 
$101 57 for minor sundries. Income, $662 02, being balance 
last report, $1 32 ; church collections, $282 31 ; school collec- 
tions, $232 19; and through the superintendent, $150. Bal- 
ance on hand, $31 92. 

The report of Miss C. H. Tripler, who ever since the 
organization of this mission has been treasurer of its Poor 
Fund, was read by Superintendent Belknap. Receipts, 
$676 75 ; expended for the poor of the school, $628 53. 
Ninety-four children have received assistance. The la- 
dies' sewing society of the school has made ninety-one 
garments for these children. 

Superintendent Belknap read his report. He said : " It 
has been the policy of this school to reach out when money 
is required to make the work a success, believing that, so 
long as it is the Master's work and we give ourselves to the 
cause, He will make the way clear for us. We have suffer- 
ed in a marked degree as a school for years from the 
fact that it was absolutely impossible for the great ma- 
jority of our teachers to visit the scholars. Various plans 
as regards visiting committees have been tried, with good 
results therefrom ; but still we could see that a great many 
wandered away from the school who we thought should 
be present. And this was the source of uneasiness to the 
teachers and officers of the school as the situation was re- 
viewed from time to time. A plan was suggested long ago 
that if a lady could be engaged to visit the absentees, it 
would prevent, in a great measure, this continual leak 
from our school. But while the plan was approved, we 
could not see our way clear towards its accomplishment 
until quite recently, when your superintendent, with the 
consent of the executive committee and advice of the ad- 
visory board, engaged Miss Lizzie Holmes, who gives her 
whole time and attention to visiting the absentees of the 
school, and the result of this work is, so far, quite beyond 
our expectations, and we feel assured that the spiritual 



NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 359 

welfare of trie school will, through this work, advance 
steadily and earnestly. The reports you have listened to 
have shown you that prosperity has attended every depart- 
ment of this school. We as a school have been most 
wonderfully blessed." 

The semi-chorus entitled "What reward shall I give 
nnto the Lord ?" was sung by Misses Annie Kipp, Gussie 
King, May Stimpson, Priscilla Van Tassel, Lillian Halsey, 
and Bertha Odell. 

The superintendent then said, " We have had a few 
facts given to us about ' Our School ' past and present, and 
as we are but a part of a vast system of Sunday-schools 
throughout the world, it may be of interest to us to hear 
something of Sunday-schools in general and of the work. 
Miss Gault, by whom, when, and where was the first Sun- 
day-school organized under our present system ?" 

Answer — By Robert Raikes, Gloucester, England, 1781. 

Question No. 2 — How many were present when organ- 
ized? 

Answer — Number unknown ; but we do know that 
there were four small classes. By Miss Carrie Manning. 

Question No. 3 — What is the present number in the 
Sunday-schools of our land ? 

Answer — Census of 1880 gave 7,509,452, of which 886,- 
328 were teachers. By Miss Lizzie East. 

Question No. 4 — How many in the world ? 

Answer — 14,184,880. By Miss Etta Burns. 

The superintendent added: This includes 1,504,613 
teachers. 

Question 5 — What is the object of Sunday-school 
work? 

Mr. Callahan answered : To give instruction in the 
Word of God, and to prepare the scholars for the reception 
of Jesus Christ as their Saviour. 

Is that all, Brother Holden ? 

Answer — No ; also that we be rooted and built up in 
Him and established in the faith as we have been taught, 
abounding therein with thanksgiving. 

The school then united in singing : 



360 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

"In a little while more these rolling years 
No more will come and go ; 
In a little while more our busy hands 
No more the seed will sow." 

Seven little girls from the primary department, each 
representing- a day of the week, told how they were to 
spend each day. The seventh little girl told why Sunday 
was the brightest and best day of all the week. 

The school then united in responsive reading of a 
selection of verses from the Bible, subject, Love, beginning 
" For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begot- 
ten Son, that whosoever belie veth in him should not perish, 
but have everlasting life," John 3 : 16, and ending with the 
verse from Rev. 1:5,6, in which all the school united, 
" Unto Him that loved us, and has washed us from our sins 
in his own blood, be glory and dominion for ever and 
ever." 

Then followed a most excellent recitation on the doc- 
trines of the Bible, viz. : What is sin ? What is salvation ? 
What is faith in the Lord Jesus? What is repentance? 
What is God ? What are the promises to those who trust 
in the Lord ? Why is our Lord called Jesus Christ ? What 
is prayer ? What authority have we for our work ? 

These questions were answered by the members of the 
different classes, the answers to them being given in a verse 
of Scripture. It was a deeply instructive exercise, showing 
that the children of this school are being carefully in- 
structed in the fundamental truths of the Word of God. 

The closing hymn was then sung : 

" Praise ye the Lord ! joyfully shout Hosanna! 

Praise the Lord with glad acclaim ; 
Lift up your hearts unto his throne with gladness, 

Magnify his holy name. 
Marching along under his banner bright, 
Trusting in his mercy as we go, 
His light divine tenderly o'er us will shine ; 
We shall be guided by his hand now and for ever. 

CHORUS. 

" Steadily marching on with our banner waving o'er us, 
Steadily marching on, while we sing the joyful chorus, 
Steadily marching on, pillar and cloud going before us, 
To the realms of glory, to our home on high." 



NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 361 

The school was dismissed. by classes. 

The primary department of the school is in the base- 
ment of the chapel. Its first teacher was Miss Mary Bright, 
who was its efficient leader for a number of years. Miss 
Bright introduced object lessons with the use of the black- 
board. She was succeeded by Mrs. Thomas Post. Capt. 
Holmes was also a faithful teacher and was assisted by Miss 
F. N. Johnston (now Mrs. F. W. Thomas). Mr. and Mrs. 
John A. Amelung were also associated in the work of this 
department. Miss Bogart also taught for a brief period. 

For upwards of fifteen years Thomas H. Messer had 
charge of this department. A former teacher of the school 
writes as follows in regard to Mr. Messer's labors in con- 
nection with the department : " Never was one so loved as 
he by the children. There seemed a magnetism about him 
that the children could not resist. Every Sunday found 
him in his place. A more faithful teacher I never knew. 
He knew each scholar by name. He often meets his former 
pupils, now grown, keeps track of them, and keeps up his 
interest in them. He loved that class and his affection was 
warmly reciprocated by his pupils. Several years ago the 
children purchased a picture called ' Tick Tack,' hand- 
somely framed, and presented it to him. That child's face 
attentively listening will always silently remind him of the 
great love of the little children whom he so devotedly loved 
and faithfully cared for and watched over." 

Mr. Messer was succeeded by Franklin Airey, who is the 
present superintendent. His labors have also been most 
successful, and the department under his leadership contin- 
ues to prosper. He is held in affectionate esteem by his 
pupils and co-laborers. The department, through Mr. 
Airey 's suggestion, was first divided into classes, and at this 
writing, July, 1889, has twenty -six classes. A prominent 
and effective feature of Mr. Airey 's teaching is his excel- 
lent and instructive blackboard exercises. 

The largest and advanced Bible-class in the school is 
taught by Ezra L. Manning and is held in the east gallery 
of the chapel. This class numbers from fifty to sixty mem- 
bers of men and women, many of whom are heads of fami- 
lies. Prominence is given to this class in that a notice in 



362 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

the vestibule of the chapel reads, " Strangers' class up stairs. 
Welcome." Not a few strangers in the city visiting the 
school have availed themselves of the invitation and have 
been encouraged, strengthened, and blessed in the weary 
march of life by the helpful and comforting words of its 
teacher. 

Mr. Manning is a close Bible student and possesses rare 
gifts of imparting Scripture knowledge. He has been 
a teacher in the school for a period of fifteen years and has 
had charge of his present class for five years. He has been 
solicited to serve as superintendent to the school, but has 
declined the office, believing that he can best serve its in- 
terests in his present capacity. His labors have been abun- 
dantly blessed, and he has the warm affections of all who 
have been privileged to sit under his instruction. From 
this class many have been received into the communion of 
the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church. Mr. Manning has 
also been an interesting and successful leader of the weekly 
teachers' meeting of this and the home school. 

George P. Holden, a teacher in the school, gave, in the 
" Gazette," the following interesting account of the teach- 
ers' meeting under Mr. Manning's leadership during several 
months of the year 1887 : 

" The Palestine excursion of the attendants of the Fri- 
day night meeting, held at the Nepperhan Avenue Baptist 
Mission Chapel, which left New York about two months 
ago and has been journeying, in imagination, along the 
shores of the Mediterranean Sea, has landed at Jaffa and 
proceeded overland as far as Jerusalem. In the course of 
their imaginary journey, under the leadership and guid- 
ance of Ezra L. Manning, members of the party have been 
dropped at various points along the route, who are expected 
to note the present appearance of, and to search out matters 
of interest in ancient and especially Biblical history per- 
taining to, those places, and to communicate to the other ex- 
cursionists the result of their observations. The first re- 
port, from Elmer J. Manning, described his landing at 
Pozzuoli, in the Bay of Naples, and journey to Rome, along 
nearly the same course as that travelled by the Apostle 
Paul. The old Bible history was made very graphic and 



NEPPERHAX AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 363 

interesting as he described the points of interest, illustrated 
by photographs, as seen by him from the windows of a rail- 
road car. On Friday evening, 23d instant, the resident at 
Egypt described his experience at Alexander and Cairo, 
illustrated by photographs of street scenes and general 
views. Miss Charlotte Taylor gave a description of Corinth 
as she saw it in imagination and cited many interesting 
historical events associated with that place. Franklin Airey, 
the resident of Athens, told the tourists how he roamed 
over the old battlefields and stood where Xerxes stood to 
witness the great naval battle renowned in Greek history. 
The excursionists meet every Friday evening to hear from 
one or more of their representatives in different places. 
Aside from this unique feature, recently introduced, the 
primary object of the meetings, the study of the Sunday- 
school lesson is never slighted, but under the able direction 
of Ezra L. Manning, whose standing as a Bible student and 
successful teacher is well known to many, these lessons are 
studied with much profit. But an exceedingly attractive 
feature of this study yet remains to be mentioned. At the 
close of Mr. Manning's remarks Franklin Airey skilfully 
draws in colors an ingenious blackboard illustration or 
adaptation of the lesson, and to his active brain and deft 
hand those teachers present are weekly indebted for a 
forceful presentation of Scripture truths which otherwise 
would be hidden to many. At the close of the meeting 
hektograph copies of this illustration, with explanatory 
notes, are distributed." 

Cornelius H. Callahan has charge of a Bible-class which 
gathers in the northwest gallery, numbering some twenty 
young men. Mrs. Dr. Sarah E. Post is teacher of a wo- 
men's Bible-class in the southeast gallery. These, with Mr. 
Manning's class, are the more advanced Bible - classes. 
There are eighty-eight Bible-classes in the school, most 
of which are taught in the main room. 

The school occupied two evenings for its Christmas 
celebration of 1887. On Thursday evening Rev. H. B. 
Grose, on behalf of the school, presented a handsome gold 
medal to William J. Bright as a token of the appreciation 
felt for his gratuitous services as cornetist. The medal is a 



364 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

handsome piece of workmanship and on the face are the 
words " Xmas, 1887," with a monogram of the recipient. 
The reverse side bears this inscription, " Presented by the 
Nepperhan Avenue Baptist Mission Sunday-school." Dur- 
the evening the school was presented with a handsome 
crayon portrait of Miss Caroline H. Tripler, who has been 
treasurer of the Poor Fund of the school since its organiza- 
tion, twenty-four years ago, which had been obtained to 
adorn the chapel walls through the contributions of the 
various classes. Miss Tripler had not been photographed 
for forty years, and it was only after much persuasion that 
she would consent to have the picture taken from which the 
portrait was copied. Rev. H. B. Grose, acting pastor of the 
Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, made the presentation 
speeches. 

The annual midsummer excursion of this school and 
the home school took place on Thursday, July 12, 1888, 
when the steamboat " Sirius " carried them down the Hud- 
son River, through New York Bay, around Staten Island, 
through Raritan Bay to Boynton Beach, N. J., where ample 
apportunity was afforded for luncheon, games, and boating. 

The twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of this 
school was observed with an interesting service in the 
chapel on Sunday afternoon, November 11, 1888. The aud- 
ience-room was tastefully decorated for the occasion. Upon 
the wall, back of the superintendent's desk, hung three 
large portraits, those of Rev. Dr. Edward Bright, the foun- 
der of the school, John A. Amelung, a former superintend- 
ent, and Miss C. H. Tripler, treasurer of the Poor Fund. 
Upon either side in colored letters a foot long were the 
years covered by the organization of the school, 1863 — 1888. 
There were 802 children present, while the visitors swelled 
this number to about one thousand. Among those seated 
upon the platform were William H. Belknap, Superintend- 
ent ; Rev. Dr. Edward Bright, editor of the " New York Ex- 
aminer ;" James B. Colgate, John B. Trevor, Rev. Henry 
Bromley, George M. Bailey, Dr. R. Oliver Phillips, Rev. 
Dr. David Cole, Rev. William H. Doane, and Rev. Dr. Alvah 
S. Hobart. Acting Superintendent W. W. Middlebrook 
presided. 



NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 365 

The exercises were opened with the hymn, " Heavenly- 
Father, send thy blessing," Prof. Edwin Moore leading, 
with accompaniment by John Bright and W. J. Bright on 
cornets, and by Miss Hattie Middlebrook on the piano. 
The primary department sang sweetly, " Tell it to Jesus," 
accompanied by Miss Mattie Warren at the piano, Cornelius 
EL Callahan directing. After a responsive reading ex-su- 
perintendent Phillips offered prayer. A triple quartette — 
composed of Misses Bertha Odell, Lillie Halsey, and Annie 
Kip, soprano ; Misses Priscilla Van Tassel, Grace King, 
and Clara Mott, alto ; C. H. Callahan, Wilber Hammond, 
and Charles Manning, tenor ; and Charles W. Ackerman, 
Charles E. See, and Wilson D. Youmans, bass — then sang 
very pleasantly an anthem, Miss Odell taking the solo part. 

E. L. Manning, treasurer, read his report for the year, 
showing a balance on hand of $72 10. The church and 
school collections amounted to $418 54 ; $875 was received 
from friends. Missionary work took $550, and the Publica- 
tion Society, $245 48. 

Miss C. H. Tripler presented her twenty-fifth annual 
report of the Poor Fund. Receipts, $707 12; expenditure 
for clothing, etc., $657 80; balance, $49 32. During the 
year 102 scholars have been aided. Cast-off garments were 
donated by friends of the school, and fifty garments were 
made by the ladies of the society from material purchased 
by the school. 

The Secretary, George T. Leeds, followed with his re- 
port, which showed the total attendance for the year as 
31,298, against 28,455 f° r l88 7 ; enrolment for 1887, 885; 
for 1888,958; average attendance for 1887, 545 ; for 1888, 
601; number of classes for 1887,74; in 1888, 78. The 
average attendance during the year was 601 ; the largest on 
any one Sunday, 746 ; the smallest, 238. 

" Learning we had one scholar during the past year who 
had been present every Sunday for a long time led the offi- 
cials to look up records of the other pupils on the main 
floor, with the following results : Miss Vinnie Dutton had 
been present every Sunday during four and a half years. 
Miss Minnie Hull had been absent only once each year for 
the past five years. Minnie Feakins present every Sunday 



366 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

for four years. Frank Ryer, Johnnie Simpson, Nellie Yerks 
have each been present every Sunday for the last year. 
Miss Maggie Jones, Annie Hull, Mary Hull, Wellie Kellock, 
Frank Brady, Harry Walsh, and William Bright were ab- 
sent but once during the past year. The following were ab- 
sent but twice in that time : Emma Grose, Lillian Yerks, 
William Graham, George Wright, Wilbur Feakins, and 
William Wright. Ella Manning and Paul Hogan, from the 
primary department, have each been absent but one Sun- 
day during the past year. Twenty-four scholars have joined 
the church by baptism." 

Wm. P. East, librarian, reported that during the year 
there had been no additions to the library. Total number 
of volumes, 445. He said that there was a real need of 
more books. During the year 4,500 lesson helps were dis- 
tributed. "Just here," said Mr. East, "it seems fitting to 
acknowledge the valuable assistance rendered by Messrs. 
Henry S., Frank R., and Halsey A. Hathaway in library 
work during the past year." 

After a solo by Miss Minnie Warren, entitled, " Jesus 
Found Me," with chorus by the primary department, Frank- 
lin Airey, director of that department, reported the full at- 
tendance for 1888 as 13,619, against 11,701 for 1887 ; average 
per Sunday : 1888, 262 ; 1887, 225 ; enrolment, 433. He said 
that there was one thing that caused a feeling of great sat- 
isfaction, the fact that the average attendance had im- 
proved. " There is great need of four or five more teachers. 
The department is overcrowded. In my judgment, what 
the school most needs is an intermediate department, to 
take at least 100 scholars from the primary department at 
once, but this will require alterations and cost." 

The report of Miss E. Holmes, the visitor, showed that 
during the year the number of absentees called upon was 
4,193 ; scholars brought into the school, 104 ; scholars sent to 
Miss Tripler, treasurer of the poor department, for aid, 83. 

The acting superintendent, W. W. Middlebrook, read a 
long and interesting report. He referred to the establish- 
ment of the school in 1863, and to the remarkable coinci- 
dence that the sum of the figures in 1888 is 25. "We are 
twenty-five years old, and I do not think we are very small 



NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 367 

of our age, but I hope that when we shall have rounded out 
a half a century, the school will not only have doubled 
but quadrupled in size. I presume you have listened with 
interest to the reports of the officers of our school. They 
give you, in brief, the work accomplished and the present 
standing and equipment of the school. The school has 
been a success and a power for good in this community 
from the very start. Each year has been marked by prog- 
ress in one direction or another." 

Pleasant references were made by Superintendent Mid- 
dlebrook to teachers W. L. Halsey and W. Papps, who have 
been connected with the school about 23 years. 

" Death has visited our school twice the past year, once 
taking a little one and again one over whose head many 
years had passed. Our primary department has steadily 
increased in membership and gained in average attendance. 
I hope that what the superintendent said of' his needs may 
fall on fruitful ground. We can't afford to slight the little 
ones, as upon them we must depend in the years to come. 
Our Poor Fund report is very interesting and encouraging. 
I am told that the collections are larger than ever before. 

" Prior to this year the finances of the school have been 
attended to by the executive officers, but circumstances 
made it so that the treasurer had the responsibility of that 
matter. A finance committee consisting of the following 
gentlemen has been appointed, viz. : Messrs. William H. 
Belknap, chairman, Frank Airey, C. H. Callahan, A. J. Fea- 
kins, and E. L. Manning, treasurer. 

" That item of donations by friends of $857 is grand. It 
costs us $1,500 a year to run our school in addition to the 
expense of janitor, coal, gas, and repairs on the building, 
which are met by the church." 

Superintendent Middlebrook in conclusion said, " I 
close with the prayer that He who rules above will guide 
us as a school and individuals and bring us all at last to the 
rest prepared for those who have been washed in the blood 
of the Lamb." 

Rev. Dr. A. J. F. Behrends, of Brooklyn, a former pas- 
tor, had been expected at the anniversary, but his duties at 
home prevented his attendance. 



368 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

After the singing of the hymn, " Glory, Praise, and 
Honor," and the dismissal of the primary department, Rev. 
Dr. Bright was introduced and spoke briefly of the early 
history of the school. 

A part of the school then joined, with Miss Lena Gracie 
as leader, in the responsive reading of " Twenty-five years' 
work for Jesus." Rev. Henry Bromley also gave personal 
reminiscences of its early history. 

The singing of the hymn, " May every Year," was fol- 
lowed by a recitation from Miss Edna Randall, entitled 
" Not in Vain." Rev. Dr. Hobart followed with brief re- 
marks. 

The service was closed with hymn, " Forward, Be Our 
Watchword," and the Lord's Prayer recited in unison, led 
by George M. Bailey, superintendent of the Warburton 
Avenue Baptist Sunday-school. 

The school has a printed Constitution and By-laws, 
adopted in 1885, by which it is governed. The superintend- 
ent, assistant-superintendent, and treasurer constitute an 
executive committee, and no important decision is reached 
and carried into effect without the entire approval of this 
committee. Another important and noteworthy article of 
the Constitution states that the qualifications required for a 
teacher shall be a practical experience of religion and 
membership in an evangelical church. 

An interesting meeting of the Yonkers Bible and 
Prayer Union was held at the Nepperhan Avenue Baptist 
Mission Chapel on Monday evening, November 12, 1888. 
James G. Affleck presided. Miss Emma Copeman read a pa- 
per on the Epistle of Titus, Miss Parsons on 1st Timothy, 
Miss Graham on 2d Timothy, and Miss Jewel on the Epistle 
of Philemon. The papers read were very instructive and 
evinced careful study and preparation on the part of the 
writers. 

The spacious auditorium of the chapel was filled with 
the children of the school who had met to celebrate the 
Christmas festivities of 1888. The exercises were interest- 
ing, the various recitations being interspersed with carols 
by the school. Dr. R. O. Phillips read a portion of Scrip- 
ture and George M. Bailey offered prayer. 



NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. , 369 

Each boy had a parcel and Santa Claus opened each of 
the parcels. They contained presents for the officers and 
teachers of the school. One was a handsome portfolio con- 
taining a set of resolutions, an exceptionally fine specimen 
of artistic penmanship, from the school to Superintendent 
Belknap, on the occasion of his retiring from office. Per- 
haps all the children did not know that Santa Claus was 
their good friend Charles W. Ackerman. 

A general distribution of toys and bags brought the 
festival to a close. The presents were designed with a lib- 
eral hand, and of about a thousand children in the whole 
school not one was overlooked. 

Interesting services were held in the chapel on Mon- 
day, December 31, 1888. The services were as follows: 
8 to 8 : 45, Bible-reading, led by Mrs. A. S. Hobart, the pas- 
tor's wife, subject being " Watch ;" from 9 to 9 : 45, song ser- 
vice ; from 10 to 10 : 45, consecration ; from 1 1 : 50 to 12 : 05, 
prayers. Several of the members of the Young People's 
Prayer-meeting of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church 
took part in the services, which were very solemn and im- 
pressive. 

A delightful reception was given by the officers and 
teachers of this and the Warburton Avenue Baptist Sun- 
day-school to Rev. Dr. A. S. Hobart, pastor of the Warbur- 
ton Avenue Baptist Church, previous to his departure for 
Europe on his summer vacation, on Friday evening, June 
28, 1889, in the Nepperhan Avenue Mission Chapel. Dr. 
Hobart sailed on the Cunard steamer " Umbria " July 6, to 
be absent two months. 

On Tuesday, July 16, 1889, the annual picnic day of 
the two schools was spent at Oscawana Island, about three 
hours' sail up the Hudson River. 

The elder scholars of the school had their Christmas 
festival on Thursday evening, December 26, 1889, in con- 
nection with the home school in the Warburton Avenue 
Baptist Church. The exercises began with the singing of 
*' Caroling Glory," by the school. Dr. R. Oliver Phillips 
read a portion of Scripture, and Rev. Dr. Alvah S. Hobart 
offered prayer. After another carol, Stanley H. Ray read 
part of the second chapter of St. Luke. 

Church and Sunday-school Work. 2A 



370 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Twenty young ladies and gentlemen sang together, 
and Dr. Hobart followed with an appropriate address. 

A cantata, " The Crown of the Year," was participated 
in by about fifty scholars, twelve of whom represented the 
months of the year. Father Time sat on a large throne, 
with hour-glass and scythe, and was to judge which month 
should wear the golden crown for bringing the best bless- 
ing to men. Each month came before Judge Time, and, 
with speech and song, laid before him its claim upon the 
crown. When all the months had shown forth their glories, 
Father Time stepped down from the throne and placed the 
crown upon the head of December, for in that month the 
Lord was born — the greatest blessing to men. 

The singing was led by Prof. Edwin Moore ; Miss Mid- 
dlebrook, piano, and W. J. Bright, cornet. Besides bags of 
nuts, candy, and oranges, many of the scholars received 
books and Christmas cards from their teachers. Elmer J. 
Manning received a handsome parlor lamp from his class of 
young ladies. James G. Affleck received a gold pen and 
pearl penholder from his class of boys. Miss Manning re- 
ceived a handsome embossed-leather writing-case from her 
scholars. Tnere were a number of other class presenta- 
tions. 

The festival of the primary department was held the 
following evening, Friday, December, 27, 1889, in the 
Mission Chapel. Frank Airey, director of the primary 
school, presided and introduced the several actors in the 
programme of exercises. 

The Bible-reading was by Stanley H. Ray, and prayer 
was offered by T. H. Messer. The hymn,." Hosanna in the 
Highest," was sung by the school, and recitations were 
given by the following children : Millie Niel, Gracy Bailey, 
Lulu Armstrong, Ida Graham, Nettie Handley. A dia- 
logue, exercise, and song, "We All Can Do Good," was 
spoken by a number of boys and girls, and " Golden 
Keys " was recited by Florence Ball. 

The appearance of Santa Claus, in costume, was greet- 
ed with enthusiastic applause by the children. 

After the presentation of a gift to Superintendent Airey 
from the children of the primary department, the order of 



NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 37 1 

exercises was then resumed. "Christmas Is Coming " was 
recited by Emma Crombley. " My Speech," by Fernando 
Hughes, Jr., was so well given that it was encored. A song, 
" Little New Years," was sung by Kittie Allison ; a recita- 
tion, " Lost Doll," was given by Nettie Dutton. After a 
carol, " Welcome the Saviour," by a number of boys and 
girls, came the following recitations : " Christmas," by 
Jennie Clapperton ; " Little Boy's Piece," by Lanney See ; 
" Fol de Rol," by Daisy Hatfield ; and " I Can Speak," by 
Edwin Hughes. 

Exercises, with singing and tableaux, followed, show- 
ing the young Christian putting on the armor of right- 
eousness and starting on his journey to the celestial land. 
The tableaux illustrated respectively his arrival at the gate 
of heaven, his admission there among the shining throng, 
and his receiving a crown of glory. 

The exercises of the twenty-sixth anniversary of the 
Nepperhan Avenue Baptist Mission Sunday-school were 
held on Sunday afternoon, November 10, 1889. Wm. H. 
Baldwin the Superintendent, presided. There was some 
excellent singing, and a blackboard illustration of the lesson 
by Frank Airey, director of the primary department. 

The annual report was read, showing 998 on the roll, in- 
cluding officers and 72 teachers, and that the average attend- 
ance was 597. It needed but two more names to make 
the number enrolled 1,000. The school is divided into 
seventy-nine classes. The enrolment for the year 1888 was 
as follows; Bible-classes, 91; intermediate, 436; primary, 
374 ; teachers, 72 ; officers, 12 ; total, 995. The treasurer, E. 
L. Manning, reported : Receipts, $1,548 20; disbursements, 
$1,407 27; balance, $140 93. 

The visitor, Miss Lizzie Holmes, had made 3,221 visits 
during the year. 

The Sunday-school library had been enlarged last year 
by a generous gift of Dr. Phillips. Books full of truth, 
wide awake, modern, dealing with subjects of common 
interest, but written with a reverent Christian spirit, were 
added, and the result has been that they are constantly in 
use. In the course of the year two deaths had occurred 
among the pupils, and 31 had been baptized. 



372 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

A reception was given at the Nepperhan Avenue Bap- 
tist Mission, in February, 1890, by the officers of the Sunday- 
school to the teachers. 

There was a very happy gathering ; and Miss Bertha 
Odell, Miss Fuller, Miss Stapleton, Willard Carpenter, 
William J. Bright, and Winfield S. Van Wagner furnished 
an excellent musical programme. 

The feature of the evening was a presentation to Mr. 
and Mrs. A. J. Feakins, who, after twenty years of labor in 
the Mission School, have removed to New York City. The 
gifts were a handsome clock and two bronze ornaments rep- 
resenting Music and Poetry, which rested on a table and 
were profusely ornamented with roses, and handsomely 
engrossed resolutions, passed by the teachers and scholars 
of the school in grateful recognition of their services in 
the school. 

The duties of the secretary of the Teachers' Association 
of this school is as follows ; " The secretary shall keep care- 
fully and in good order the register and minute books of 
the school, and report weekly to the superintendent the ab- 
sence of officers and teachers, together with the statistics 
of the school ; also he shall keep the minutes of the business 
meetings and do all the necessary writing of the association." 
Henry Skinner Hathaway — a graduate of the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, and a recent 
graduate of the Homoeopathic Medical College and Hos- 
pital of that city, filled this office with great acceptance for 
over six years. 

Rev. W. Crozier, now a professor in Colgate Univer- 
sity, was a former pupil of this school. 

The lesson helps used by the school are all from the 
American Baptist Publication Society, in four grades, viz ; 
" The Baptist Teacher" and advanced, intermediate, and 
primary lesson quarterlies. The singing books are " The 
Alleluia" and " Our Sunday-school Songs," edited by E. H. 
Johnson. 

The Nepperhan Avenue Baptist Sunday-school is the 
leading one in the city, and the largest Sunday-school in 
Westchester County. It has been remarkably blessed in that 
it has had from its organization for its superintendents most 



NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 373 

devoted, earnest, and faithful men, who in their ministry 
as helpers and friends, rejoiced to spend and be spent in 
their service for the Master and for others. 

This school, in its general management, is character- 
ized by promptness, method, heartiness, and attention to 
details that testify to the controlling influence of its chief 
officer, the superintendent. Everything works with the 
regularity of a clock, without friction. There is no hesita- 
tion, no confusion, and little matters which are apt to be 
despised or overlooked in some Sunday-schools, receive 
attention and added zest. In these particulars it is similar 
to the renowned Bethany Sunday-school of Philadelphia 
which is superintended by Postmaster-General John Wana- 
maker. From this school many have been gathered into 
the communion of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, 
and some have become communicants of other churches in 
the city and elsewhere. 

The superintendents who have served successively this 
school are as follows : Rev. Edward Bright, D. D., who w T as 
the first superintendent and served nine years, elected No- 
vember 2, 1863 ; Mr. Van Kirk ; Mr. Eddy ; John A. Amelung, 
in office for six years ; A. J. Feakins, acting superintendent ; 
R. Oliver Phillips, M. D. ; William H. Belknap ; W. W. Mid- 
dlebook, acting superintendent ; and W. Henry Baldwin, 
elected January 1, 1889. Resigned 1890, succeeded by Ster- 
ling F. Haywood. 

The present officers of the school are : Sterling F. 
Haywood, Superintendent ; W. W. Middlebrook, First As- 
sistant Superintendent ; George T. Leeds, Second Assist- 
ant Superintendent ; Willard S. Sherwood, Secretary ; E. L. 
Manning, Treasurer ; Frank Airey, Director Primary De- 
partment ; H. Alexander Hathaway, Librarian ; William 
Halley, Assistant Librarian ; Miss C. H. Tripler, Treas- 
urer Poor Fund. 

The Sunday-school record book includes the follow- 
ing teachers for 1889-90: James G. Affleck, Mrs. Sarah M. 
Archer, Miss Jennie M. Arbuckle, Miss Jessie Austin, 
Arthur D. Ballard, Miss H. Etta Burns, Miss Olivia Burns, 
Miss Gertrude L. Burns, Cornelius H. Callahan, Mr. Chad- 
burn, Miss Emma Coapman, Miss Jane C. Davis, Gustave 



374 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Desgrey, Miss Donnelly, Miss Susie E. Drinkwater, Miss 
Dunlap, Miss Lizzie East, Miss Mary Hudson East, Josiah 
East, Richard Edie, Jr., Miss Maggie Farmer, Mrs. M. J. 
W. Feakins, Mrs. Nancy Frankenburg, Mrs. A. E. Freethy, 
Miss L. Matilda Fuller, Miss Christena Fulton, Miss Emily 
Gault, Miss Kate Gracy, Miss Kate A. Graham, Miss Anna 
Grieve, Miss Jennie Hadden, Wm. S. Halsey, Mrs. Halsey, 
George P. Holden, Miss Mary Holden, Miss Sarah E. 
Holmes, James E. Howes, Miss Jennie D. Hull, Howard T. 
James, Miss Effie May Jackson, Miss Jennie B. Jewell, Miss 
Eva Mackey, Miss Annie Mathews, Miss Mary McHenry, 
Ezra L. Manning, Elmer J. Manning, Miss Carrie Manning, 
Charles E. Manning, Miss Beulah S. Messer, Miss Hattie 
A. Middlebrook, Harry R. Middlebrook, Miss Grace New- 
man, Mrs. L. H. Odell, Mrs. Emma Oliver, William Papps, 
Miss Jennie W. Papps, Miss Florence Parsons, Dr. Sarah 
E. Post, Miss Mattie L. Prote, Miss Jennie Prote, Miss 
Elvina Robinson James C. Scott, Miss Mary O. Scott, Mrs. 
Catherine A. Sherwood, Marcus W. Sherwood, Mrs. Martha 
J. Sherwood, Miss Lulu Smith, William G. Stahlnecker, 
Jr., Miss Tillie J. Stapleton, William S. Southerland, Miss 
Addie Swan, Miss Cornelia L. Tarbell, Miss Charlotte Tay- 
lor, Mrs. Catherine A. Thomas, Miss Caroline H. Tripler, 
Miss Priscilla Van Tassell, Miss Emma Van Wagner, Mrs. 
Eliza Walsh, Miss Minnie Warren, and Miss Amy L. Wolf. 



WOODHILL UNION CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 375 

CHAPTER XIV. 

WOODHILL UNION CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

In the old district schoolhouse located on the corner 
of the Sawmill River and Tuckahoe roads, two and a half 
miles from the Yonkers City Hall, which was the birth- 
place of the first Sunday-school in Yonkers, a Sunday- 
school was opened in the spring- of 1858 by Cornelius W. 
Thomas, a prominent member of the Baptist Church of 
Hastings, N. Y. 

This school was opened at nine o'clock in the morning. 
Mr. Thomas was assisted by the following teachers : Mrs. 
Abram Baxter, Mrs. Thomas Smith, Mrs. WyckorT, Mrs. 
Frederick Conklin, Miss Amanda Pulver, Miss Jane Sher- 
wood, Miss Lena Miller, Miss Jane Hains, Wallace Pulver, 
and Nicholas Furzman. Mr. Pulver was chosen secretary 
and filled the office with great acceptance for four years. 
Mr. Thomas was elected Superintendent and Treasurer. 

The school, which opened with not more than twelve 
or fifteen pupils, in a few months numbered between forty- 
five and fifty scholars in its average attendance, and during 
Mr. Thomas' superintendency of three years the enrol- 
ment was over eighty scholars. Superintendent Thomas 
was a fine singer and took much pleasure in cultivating the 
musical talents of the children. He was ably assisted in 
this department of work by Mr. Pulver, an attractive 
and prominent feature of the school being its good sing- 
ing. 

The lesson helps used by the school were the publica- 
tions of the American Sunday-school Union and the Amer- 
ican Tract Society. 

After Mr. Thomas' resignation Wallace Pulver was 
elected Superintendent, and served two years. During this 
time a considerable amount of money was raised for benev- 
olent purposes, and the monthly missionary meetings held 
by the school were full of interest and enthusiasm. Pleas- 
ant remembrances are recalled of the addresses of Rev. W, 



376 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

W. Rand, D. D., of Yonkers, who favored the school with 
his presence on several of those occasions. 

After Mr. Pulver's resignation the school declined con- 
siderably in its attendance and was finally discontinued 
during the following winter. 

In the spring of 1864 the school was reopened by 
Henry B. Odell, who resided one mile beyond the old 
school building. Mr. Odell gave the use of his dining- 
room for the school, which at its reopening numbered 
twelve scholars. He was assisted in this enterprise by 
Mrs. Odell, who led the singing and presided at the par- 
lor organ which they kindly loaned for the use of the 
school. 

Mr. Odell's house was nearer the homes of the chil- 
dren who resided in that locality and of those who attend- 
ed the school from the country district of Hastings than its 
former location. In a few months the dining-room became 
too small, and the school adjourned to an out-building be- 
longing to Mr. Odell. 

Rev. Thomas R. G. Peck, then the pastor of the Re- 
formed Church at Hastings, became very much interested 
in the work of the Sunday-school and proposed the holding 
of religious services on Sunday evenings. Mr. Peck's prop- 
osition met with a cordial response from the people of that 
section, and a Sunday evening service was begun and for a 
number of weeks was conducted by Rev. Mr. Peck, who 
was assisted by some of the members of his church at Has- 
tings. 

The attendance at these Sunday evening meetings 
increased until the building was too small to accommodate 
those who desired to become attendants. This led to the 
suggestion of building a mission chapel. To further this 
plan a fair was held in a tent on the grounds of Cornelius 
M. Odell, adjoining the present site of the chapel. The 
fair was held for three days and netted the sum of $1,300. 
Another fair and entertainments followed, from which 
were realized $1,000. Among the number who took an 
active and prominent part in these fairs and entertain- 
ments are recalled Mr. and Mrs. Henry Odell, Mr. and Mrs. 
Abram Odell, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Odell, Miss Fannie Dud- 



WOODHILL UNION CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 377 

ley, Wallace Pulver, Mr. and Airs. James Varian, Mr. and 
Mrs. Abram Baxter. 

In due time, from the proceeds of these fairs and other 
entertainments, a chapel was built on a quarter of an acre 
of ground which was near the residence of Henry Odell, 
and which was given by him for that purpose. The chapel 
was a neat wooden structure with a small belfry. The 
seating capacity was three hundred. The cost of the build- 
ing was a little over $3,000, including the furniture. 

The chapel was opened without any formal dedication 
in 1868. Services were held there on Sunday evenings for 
a number of years, usually conducted by Rev. Thomas R. 
G. Peck, who was assisted by some of the pastors of the 
Yonkers churches and some of the laymen connected with 
the churches of Yonkers and the church at Hastings. 
Monthly services of song were held and the interest in the 
work at the chapel deepened. The attendance averaged 
one hundred and fifty on Sunday evenings. 

Pleasant entertainments were held, the receipts of 
which were devoted to the payment of the expenses of the 
chapel and Sunday-school, which then took the name of 
" Woodhill Union Sunday-school." 

Luther Chambers, John B. Wells, James Varian, Dan- 
iel Curry, Wallace Pulver, and Henry B. Odell were ap- 
pointed trustees of the chapel. 

The Sunday-school, under the leadership of its Super- 
intendent, Henry B. Odell, increased to 116 scholars, and 
before Air. Odell's removal to Yonkers had on its record 
book 125 pupils. During Mr. Odell's absence on account 
of ill-health Wallace Pulver acted as Superintendent, and 
also had charge of the young ladies' Bible-class. James 
Austin was the Secretary of the school for a brief period at 
this time. 

Oliver Chambers (now Dr. Oliver Chambers, of Scran- 
ton, Pa.), who was a teacher in the school, was also Acting 
Superintendent for a brief period. Air. and Mrs. John B. 
Wells, Miss Tompkins, Miss Mary Odell (now Airs. Abram 
Austin), Mrs. James B. Haines, Mrs. Stomenger, Airs. 
Drinkwater, Mrs. Moore, Miss Gussie Austin, Aliss Jose- 
phine Wells, Aliss Rachel Alartin, James Austin, Abram 



378 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Austin, Henry Curry, and others whose names cannot be 
recalled, were teachers in the school at this time. 

The International Series of Lessons was then used in 
the school and "The Child's Paper," published by the 
American Tract Society, was circulated. The singing 
books used were " Happy Voices " and " Brightest and 
Best," by William Bradbury. 

The contributions of the school were donated to the 
American Tract Society. 

In 1875, owing to the removal of a number of the 
prominent supporters of the work at Woodhill, the chapel 
services were discontinued. During this year Henry B. 
Odell and family and some of the teachers changed their 
residence to Yonkers and others moved to New York, 
which greatly reduced the attendance of the school. 

In the winter of 1875-76 Oliver Chambers took charge 
of the school. He was assisted by G. Livingston Morse, 
an officer in the First Presbyterian Church of Yonkers, who 
also had entire charge of the school during 1877-78. At 
this time, owing to the decrease of the population in the 
surrounding neighborhood, the number of pupils had de- 
creased to about fifty, and the school was discontinued for 
two years. 

In the spring of 1881 William Allen Butler, Jr., a 
member of the First Presbyterian Church of Yonkers, 
assumed by request the charge of the school, and contin- 
ued in charge until the autumn of the same year, when it 
was again closed for want of helpers to properly carry it on. 

In 1883-84 H. C. Fuller, of Hastings, carried on the 
school during the summer months, after which it was 
again closed. 

The latest information of this little Sunday-school is 
given in the following note : 

North Yonkers, March 4, 1888. 
" Miss Kirkwood : I received a letter from you some 
time ago asking for information concerning the Woodhill 
Chapel Sunday-school. The little Sunday-school has not 
amounted to very much this winter. The chapel has been 
so damp that we could not succeed in getting it dry and 
warm enough to be safe for the little children, so I invited 






WOODHILL UNION CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 379 

them to come and have Sunday-school in my parlor until 
warm weather. I live in the house, just in the rear of the 
chapel, formerly occupied by Henry B. Odell. On pleasant 
Sundays we have quite a number present. Our Superin- 
tendent is Dr. J. W. Nobles, who also has charge of the 
Bible-class, Mrs. Austin of the intermediate class, Mrs. 
Johnson of the boys' infant-class, and Mr. Richards and 
myself have the girls' infant-class. The entire infant-class 
numbers fourteen. The total number of pupils is thirty. 
Our school is held at three o'clock in the afternoon. It 
was reopened in October, 1887. We hope we will have a 
larger school next summer. Wishing you success in your 
excellent work, I am, 

" Yours very respectfully, 

" MRS. M. C. RICHARDS." 

Wallace Pulver is on the honorary list of Sunday- 
school teachers from this school. 

The Superintendents of Woodhill Sunday-school in 
their order of service have been : Cornelius W. Thomas, 
who was the founder of the school and its first Superin- 
tendent, 1858 ; Wallace Pulver, 1862 ; Henry B. Odell, 1864; 
Wallace Pulver, Acting Superintendent ; Oliver Chambers, 
1875; G. Livingston Morse, 1877; William Allen Butler, 
Jr., 1881 ; H. C. Fuller, 1883; J. W. Nobles, M. D., 1887. 
The year in which these gentlemen began their services is 
given, not their entire term. 

Later than Mrs. M. C. Richards' note, the report has 
been received that Woodhill Sunday-school is flourishing, 
and is at present under the superintendency of Mr. Abram 
Austin, and has an enrolment of sixty scholars and eight 
teachers. 

In connection with the school is a society called " The 
Epworth League." The hour of session of the school is 

2 : 30 P. M., which is followed by preaching services at 

3 : 30 P. M. 

The present Trustees of Woodhill Chapel are Messrs. 
C. L. Kirk, J. R. Breese, James Austin, Firman Lawrence, 
Mr. Parker, and Mr. Chamberlain. 



380 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

CHAPTER XV. 

CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

On September 23, 1870, a meeting was held at the resi- 
dence of William Jackson on Riverdale Avenue, to con- 
sider the expediency of forming another Methodist society 
in the south part of Yonkers. The following persons were 
present : William Jackson, John Embree, John C. Camp- 
bell, Searing Howell, Orange Webster, Reuben Barnes, 
Sylvanus Cokalete, and C. F. Moulton, who resolved to 
secure a place of worship and to secure the services of a 
Methodist clergyman. They appointed a committee to 
procure a place of worship, and the hall over the Yonkers 
Savings-Bank, on South Broadway, nearly opposite Hud- 
son Street, was secured at a rental of $600 per annum. 
This hall was furnished at an expense of $400. 

Presiding Elder Ferris gave his approval of the new 
organization and appointed Rev. George W. Lord as their 
pastor. The first prayer-meeting service was held in this 
hall on Thursday evening, October 20, 1870, and was 
largely attended. The first preaching service was held on 
Sunday, October 23, of the same year. Rev. Edmund A. 
Hill supplied the pulpit in the morning, preaching from 
the text, " Worship God," Rev. 19:10. Rev. Loyal B. 
Andrus preached in the evening. The hall, which accom- 
modated 200 persons, was well filled at these services. 

On the following Sunday, October 30, 1870, Rev. 
George W. Lord read from the pulpit the names of sev- 
enty-two members from the First Methodist Church on 
North Broadway, Yonkers, Rev. Frank Bottome, D. D., 
pastor of that church, having readily granted them letters 
of dismission. These seventy-two members constituted 
the first membership of the Central Methodist Episcopal 
Church of Yonkers. 

The congregation increased so rapidly that the hall 
became too small to accommodate the growing congrega- 
tion, and Getty Hall, on Main Street, was secured. Much 



CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH. 38 1 

diversity of opinion existed in regard to a permanent site 
until the present central and eligible one on Hudson 
Street, near Riverdale Avenue, was purchased in Septem- 
ber, 1 87 1. The lot is 72 by 120 and cost $7,000. The 
corner-stone of the new church edifice was laid on Thurs- 
day afternoon, June 13, 1872. The presiding elder of the 
district, Rev. Dr. Brown, conducted the exercises. The 
programme was as follows : 

Exhortation by the pastor, Rev. Frederick S. Barnum ; 
hymn, read by Rev. John G. Oakley ; prayer by Rev. L. W. 
Walworth ; responsive reading by the presiding elder and 
the congregation ; Scripture reading by Rev. David Cole, 
D. D.; address by Rev. D'C. Crawford, D. D.; hymn, read 
by Rev. L. W. Mudge ; address by Bishop Peck ; laying of 
the corner-stone by the presiding elder, assisted by the 
pastor ; prayer by Bishop Peck ; benediction by Rev. R. 
M. Stratton, D. D. 

A metallic box was placed in the corner-stone, contain- 
ing the following articles : a copy of the names of the 
pastor, trustees, stewards, class - leaders, Sunday - school 
superintendent, architect, builders, building committee, 
the names of the clergymen present, copies of the New 
York " Christian Advocate," the " Methodist," the" Yonkers 
Gazette," the " Yonkers Statesman," the " Yonkers Herald," 
" Methodist Almanac" for 1872, a letter from Rev. T. Ral- 
ston Smith, D. D., regretting his absence, the programme 
of services, and an old Methodist hymn-book presented by 
Mrs. Searing Howell, formerly owned by one of the first 
members of the First Methodist Church of Yonkers. 

On Sunday, April 27, 1873, the first services were held 
in the lecture-room of the new church. Rev. Dr. Ridge- 
way preached in the morning, Rev. Dr. R. M. Stratton in 
the afternoon, and Rev. Dr. Brown in the evening. On 
Sunday morning, July 6, 1873, the church was dedicated. 
The pulpit and altar were occupied by a number of visit- 
ing clergymen and laymen from New York and elsewhere. 
Rev. F. S. Barnum began the solemn service with the fol- 
lowing exhortation : 

Dearly Beloved : — The Scriptures teach us that God 
is well pleased with those who build temples to his name. 



382 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

We have heard how he filled the temple of Solomon with 
his glory, and how in the second temple he manifested 
himself still more gloriously. And the Gospel approves 
and commends the centurion who built a synagogue for 
the people. Let us not doubt that he will also favorably 
approve our purpose of dedicating this place in solemn 
manner for the performance of the several offices of reli- 
gious worship ; and let us now devoutly join in praise to 
his name that this godly undertaking hath been so far 
completed, and in prayer for his further blessing upon all 
who have been engaged therein, and upon all who shall 
hereafter worship his name in this place. 

A hymn of dedication written for the occasion by Rev. 
Dr. Bottome, beginning " Praise ye the Lord, ye people, 
praise," was read by the venerable Rev. Dr. Joseph B. 
Wakely ; prayer by Rev. Dr. John M. Reid ; Scripture lesson 
read by Rev. Dr. R. M. Stratton ; hymn read by Rev. 
George W. Lord. 

Rev. Bishop Simpson preached the sermon from 
St. John 20 : 29 — " Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because 
thou hast seen me thou hast believed ; blessed are they 
that have not seen and yet have believed." 

At the conclusion of the sermon Rev. Dr. Reid stated 
that the cost of the building, lots, and furniture was 
$40,000, and that there was a funded debt of $15,000 and a 
floating debt of $13,000. Subscriptions were then received 
for over $10,000, and the services were closed with the 
benediction by Rev. Dr. Wakely. 

At the afternoon service Rev. J. H. Lent, of Ashford, 
read the opening hymn, and Rev. Dr. Smith, of the First 
Presbyterian Church of Yonkers, offered prayer. Rev. Dr. 
John M. Reid preached the sermon from Mark 6 : 3 — "And 
they were offended at him." It was an able effort. 

The evening service was opened by the reading of a 
hymn by Rev. David Cole, D. D. Rev. Dr. Cyrus D. Foss 
preached from John 4 : 38 — " Other men labored, and ye 
are entered into their labors." 

At the close of this service additional subscriptions 
were received, the total amount raised being $23,250. 

The dedicatory service then took place conducted by 






CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH. 383 

Bishop Simpson. William Jackson, Joseph L. Proseus, 
Searing Howell, Charles Jayne, Charles P. Bynon, Abram 
S. Radcliff, B. F. Hawley, and John Forsyth, trustees, took 
places in front of the altar. The 1226. Psalm was read in 
alternate verses by Bishop Simpson and the congregation, 
at the close of which the venerable William Jackson, in 
behalf of the trustees, said : " We present unto you this 
building to be dedicated as a church for the service and 
worship of Almighty God." The Bishop repeated the 
declaration used in the dedicatory service according to 
usages of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

The service concluded with prayer, doxology, and the 
benediction. In addition to the clergymen taking part 
there were present Rev. William S. Langford, D. D., rector 
of St. John's Episcopal Church, Yonkers, Rev. E. A. Hill, 
and Rev. J. H. Hartwell. 

The church building is of brick with blue-stone trim- 
mings. It has a frontage of sixty-five feet on Hudson 
Street, including the two towers, and is ninety feet deep. 
The tower on the east side is surmounted by a spire 1 50 
feet in height. 

The size of the auditorium on the second floor is 56 by 
73 feet, with an end gallery 16 feet wide. The height of the 
ceiling in the auditorium is 35 feet. There are three aisles 
and at either side of the pulpit is a door — the one on the 
right leading to the Sunday-school room in the basement, 
and the other, on the left, into a small lavatory. 

The Sunday-school room in the basement is 56 by 60 
feet, with two class-rooms 18 by 20. The ceiling is twelve 
feet high. The auditorium was finished by J. and G. Stew- 
art. The other mason work was done by John C. Camp- 
bell and Son. The carpenter work was by David and Mar- 
vin Oakley. The architect was Richard Jones, of Brooklyn. 

The cost of the edifice, including the ground, was 
$42,000. The church was erected when building material 
was at a high rate. The white marble tablet between the 
towers bears the following inscription : " Central Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church. Erected 1872." The church is a 
substantial, convenient, and comfortable edifice. 

Rev. Frederick S. Barnum succeeded Rev. Mr. Lord. 



384 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Rev. A. H. Ferguson was the next pastor. During his pas- 
torate the current expenses were promptly met and $9,000 
of the bonded debt of $15,000 was paid off. Rev. Ezra 
Tinker succeeded Rev. Mr. Ferguson, who was succeeded 
by Rev. Alexander McLean in 1878. During his pastor- 
ate $7,000 of the mortgage debt was paid, a small strip of 
land in the rear of the church lot was purchased, and the 
floating debt was paid. 

At the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the 
church in 1880, the sum of $1,000 was raised by subscriptions 
and in cash. At the close of the session of the New York 
Conference, which met in the Central Methodist Church in 
1 88 1, Rev. P. R. Hawxhurst was appointed pastor. He was 
followed by Rev. Lucius H. King, D. D., who resigned on 
account of ill-health in 1885. In April, 1885, Rev. Charles 
W. Millard became pastor. Several needed improvements 
were made during his pastorate. In September, 1887, the 
pulpit platform was extended and a new organ-loft was 
made for the members of the volunteer choir. The new 
organ was secured principally through the efforts of J. 
Warren Goodale. It cost $1,500. 

The walls were rekalsomined, the floors were newly 
carpeted, and the vestibule was supplied with new matting. 
The principal improvement was the substitution of ten 
handsome stained glass windows for the old ones. The 
subscriptions for these windows were made through the in- 
defatigable efforts of Mrs. Abram S. Radcliff, assisted by 
Mrs. C. P. Bynon. 

Six of these beautiful windows were donated by Messrs. 
Alfred W. Serrell, A. T. Serrell, Marvin Oakley, David 
Oakley, Hamlin J. Andrus, Norton P. Otis, Charles R. Otis, 
and Solomon Oakley, and the remaining four were pur- 
chased by the contributions of others in the congregation. 
Noticeable among them is the beautiful memorial window 
to the late Searing Howell, who was a liberal contributor 
towards the church building fund, and an active, useful, and 
devout Christian member of the church. This window is 
of a floral design. On the right panel is inscribed : " Bless- 
ed are the dead who die in the Lord." On the left : " I 
have fought a good fight." And on scrolls : " In memory 



CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH. 385 

of Searing Howell." These windows were from the estab- 
lishment of Otto C. Flack, New York. 

At the expiration of Rev. Mr. Millard's pastorate the 
official board passed the following preamble and resolution, 
February 23, 1888 : 

Whereas, Rev. Charles W. Millard has for the past 
three years been the pastor of the Central Methodist Epis- 
copal Church in this city, and, according to the usages of 
our governing body, our relations as pastor and people are 
about to cease ; therefore be it 

Resolved, That we, as official members of the Central 
Methodist Episcopal Church, assembled in our fourth quar- 
terly conference, do express our warm appreciation of the 
valued services he has rendered to us as a church ; and we 
sincerely regret that we must so soon lose the companion- 
ship of so accomplished a gentleman, so congenial a bro- 
ther, and so effective a preacher and pastor : and wherever 
he may be called for future work, we wish him the highest 
degree of success and prosperity in his new associations. 

A farewell reception was given by the congregation to 
Rev. and Mrs. Millard previous to their departure to Mor- 
risania, in May, 1888. 

Addresses were made by Rev. Dr. Cole, Rev. Dr. Stro- 
bridge, and Rev. C. E. Allison, paying a high tribute to 
the work and influence of Rev. and Mrs. Millard. 

During the evening a vote of thanks was read from 
the Ladies' Aid Society to Mr. Millard for his kindness in 
delivering his lecture, " On and Beyond the Sea." 

In November, 1888, the Ladies' Aid Society, assisted by 
others connected with the church, held a fair in Warburton 
Hall, which was handsomely decorated. Booths represent- 
ing the twelve months of the year were located about the 
hall. The result of five days and nights of labor was net 
proceeds of $1,200. The fair paper, the voting, and the 
sales were instrumental in about equal parts in producing 
this grand result. The money was applied towards paying 
the debt on the parsonage. 

The financial crisis of the year 1873 was the occasion 
of the loss of many of the subscriptions which were made 
at the erection of the church, and consequently much of 

Church and Sunday-school Work. 2 ^ 



386 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

its indebtedness remained, from which it is gradually re- 
covering", and at this date there is a promising future for 
this persevering and enterprising people. 

The church has been graciously favored with several 
revivals which have resulted in large ingatherings, not 
only of the members of the congregation, but others from 
without, who were not attendants on any church organiza- 
tion. 

The first year, in the spring of 1870, fifty-eight proba- 
tioners were received. The second ingathering occurred 
under the pastorate of Rev. Ezra Tinker, in 1877, wno was 
assisted in the special services by Rev. E. P. Hammond. 
Another was under the pastorate of Rev. Alexander Mc- 
Lean. Others followed during the pastorate of Rev. P. R. 
Hawxhurst in the years 1881-84, all of which added to the 
membership. 

The pastors of the Central Methodist Church and their 
terms of service have been: Rev. George W. Lord, 1870- 
1872; Rev. Frederick S. Barnum, 1872- 1874; Rev. A. H. 
Ferguson, 1874-1877; Rev. Ezra Tinker, 1877-1878; Rev. 
Alexander McLean, 1 878-1 88 1 ; Rev. P. R. Hawxhurst, 
1881-1884; Rev. Lucius H. King, D. D., 1884-1885 ; Rev. 
Charles W. Millard, 1885-1888 ; Rev. W. McKendree Dar- 
wood, D. D., 1888-1891. 

The present pastor of the Central Methodist Episcopal 
Church — Rev. W. McKendree Darwood, D. D. — was born 
near Cambridge, England, and came with his parents to 
this country and settled in Indiana in 1849. He was admit- 
ted to the Northwest Indiana Conference of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, in 1868, and was ordained an elder by 
Bishop E. R. Ames in 187 1. In 1887 the degree of D. D. 
was conferred upon him by Baker University, of Kansas, 
the oldest university in that State. Dr. Darwood has filled 
the following appointments, Northwest Indiana Confer- 
ence : 1 868-1 869, Frankfort ; 1 870-1 87 1, Delphi ; 1872-1874, 
Laporte ; 1 875-1 877, Centenary, Terre Haute; 1878, South 
Bend ; 1879, Asbury, Terre Haute. New York Conference r 
1880-1881, St. Paul's, Peekskill; 1882-1884, Bedford Street, 
New York; 1885-1887, Washington Heights; 1888-1891, 
Central Church, Yonkers. 



CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH. 387 

Rev. Dr. Darwood's style of delivery, without notes, 
is one that cannot fail to hold attention and make deep 
impressions. 

The number of communicants at present is 325 ; 148 
have been received during his pastorate since April, 1888. 
The attendance at the weekly prayer and praise meeting 
held by this church is three hundred. It is the largest 
prayer-meeting maintained by the churches of the city at 
this writing. 

The valuation of church property is $43,000. The 
value of the church parsonage is $8,000. 

Twelve thousand dollars has been paid on the debt of 
the church during Rev. Dr. Darwood's pastorate to this 
date, May, 1891. The amount of the present indebtedness 
on the church is $12,000, on the parsonage $5,500. 

The first trustees of the church, elected September 14, 
1870, were William Jackson, Charles T. Brush, Reuben 
Barnes, Orange Webster, John Embree, John C. Campbell, 
Joseph L. Proseus, Searing Howell, and Sylvanus Cokalete. 

The official board of the Central Methodist Episcopal 
Church is composed as follows : Trustees — M. R. Oakley, 
John Forsyth, A. W. Serrell, A. S. Radcliff, J. W. Goodale, 
F. O. Hartshorn, Thomas Caddoo, W. A. Frost, and J. C. 
Campbell, Jr. Stewards— A. T. Serrell, J. C. Stillwell, J. 
W. Bynon, Robert Nickerson, C. P. Bynon, S. D. Oakley, 
John Mathews, John P. Lewis, J. D. Van O. Linda, E. W. 
Fols, G. W. Christian, M. S. Bradt, and A. E. Eldredge. 

The class-leaders are John Forsyth, Benjamin Sullard, 
Ambrose Hill, Mrs. A. M. Darwood, and Mrs. Charles P. 
Bynon. 

The officers of the Ladies' Aid Society are : Mrs. W. 
McKendree Darwood, President ; Mrs. A. S. Radcliif, Vice- 
President ; Mrs. B. J. Berrian, Jr., Secretary ; Mrs. George 
Coddington, Financial Secretary ; Mrs. Wm. H. Veitch, 
Treasurer. 

On Wednesday, September 10, 1890, the Lend-a-Hand 
Society was organized to prosecute the social money-raising 
work of the church. Officers were elected as follows : Miss 
Mary Barnes, President ; Miss Evie Serrell, Vice President ; 
Miss Julia Barnard, Secretary; Miss Fannie E. Radcliff, 



388 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Treasurer. Chairmen of Committees — Mrs. J. D. Van O. 
Linda, Social and Entertainment ; Miss Medora M. Whea- 
ton, Printing and Advertising ; Miss Susie B. Radcliff, Re- 
freshments. There are about twenty charter members. 

Another society connected with this church is the Ep- 
worth League, recently organized. 

J. Warren Goodale served the church as its organist 
efficiently and acceptably for a period of fourteen years, 
beginning in 1872. The present organist is John B. For- 
syth. 

The volunteer choir of ten voices is under the excellent 
leadership of Alfred W. Serrell. 

The present pulpit Bible was presented by the Ladies' 
Aid Society. On it is inscribed, " Central M. E. Church, 
Yonkers." It has the - following imprint: "Carlton and 
Lanahan, New York, 1868." 

The communion service was presented to the church 
in 1870 by Mrs. Wm. H. Veitch. 

The handsome pulpit-scarf was presented by Miss Susie 
B. Radcliff. 

The church clock was the gift of a young ladies' Bible- 
class in the Sunday-school, composed of Misses Lillie Ste- 
phens, Minnie Stephens, Gertie Odell, and Edith Barnes, 
who also presented the pastor's pulpit chair. 

The sacrament of the Lord's Supper is celebrated on 
the first Sunday in each month. All pews are free. 

The parsonage is on the corner of Buena Vista Avenue 
and Hudson Street. 

The present sexton of the church is Edward J. Earl, 
who has served in that capacity since December, 1884. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The Sunday-school connected with this church was or- 
ganized in the same hall in which the church was organ- 
ized, the first session being held on Sunday afternoon, Octo- 
ber 20, 1870. It opened with forty-five scholars and fifteen 
teachers, the latter of whom were : Mr. and Mrs. Searing 
Howell, Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Bynon, Miss Helen Mas- 
ten, Miss S. Campbell, Miss Mary Scott, Miss Kate Carpen- 
ter, Miss Ida Carpenter, J. W. Devlin, I. Travis, Charles 



CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH. 389 

Oakley, John Forsyth, J. Doremus, and Miss Hannah Coka- 
lete. Cyrus F. Moulton was elected its first superintendent. 

A printed report of the school in May, 1871, gives the 
following statistics : " Since the formation of this Sunday- 
school the promoters have met with a success which has ful- 
filled all their expectations. Commencing about seven 
months ago with a few scholars, they have gone on increas- 
ing so rapidly that now the roll is over one hundred and 
forty scholars. The school is held in the Grand Army Hall, 
south of the Yonkers Savings-Bank, at two o'clock p. M. 
The following are its officers and teachers : C. F. Moulton, 
Superintendent ; J. W. Devlin, Assistant Superintendent ; 
Mrs. Sarah Howell, Lady Superintendent ; Charles P. Bynon, 
Secretary ; Searing Howell, Treasurer ; J. Willet Bynon, 
Librarian ; Obadiah Eddy, Assistant Librarian. Teachers — 
Mrs. Sarah Howell, Miss Martha Bynon, Miss Mary Morris, 
Miss Helen Masten, Miss Jennie Burnett, Miss S. Campbell, 
Miss Kate Carpenter, Miss Ida Carpenter, Messrs. Searing 
Howell, J. W. Devlin, I. Travis, Charles Oakley, J. B. Oak- 
ley, John Forsyth, J. Doremus, and David Phillips. Miss 
Hannah Cokalete, infant class teacher. There are thirty 
pupils in this class." 

The school occupied the Grand Army Hall until its re- 
moval to the basement of the new church in the summer of 
1873. This room is attractively furnished, with reversible 
settees and Scripture mottoes and pictures, a large Scripture 
map, and a clock. To the southwest of the main room is 
the room occupied by the primary department and at the 
southeast is the room of the largest adult Bible-class. 

During the years it was without a permanent place of 
meeting the school continued to increase in influence and 
usefulness, and many were added to the church from the 
school through the precious revival with which the church 
was visited in 1871 and the years which followed. 

The Christmas festival of 1875 was held in the Sunday- 
school room in the basement of the church. The walls 
were tastefully decorated with stars and wreaths of ever- 
green and the pillars were entwined with the same. 

The service began with singing by eight young ladies. 
The pastor's address by Rev. A. H. Ferguson, and recita- 



390 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

tions by Misses C. Hill and B. Hill, N. Bynon, and F. Rad- 
cliff, and Masters E. Hill, S. Carpenter, and G. Morris, fol- 
lowed. Four little girls from the primary department re- 
peated in concert the first twelve verses of the fifth chapter 
of Matthew. 

A box of confectionery containing $5 was presented to 
the chorister. The pastor was presented with a large box 
marked " Family Groceries." Books were presented to the 
children and the closing address was made by Master John 
B. Forsyth. 

The following printed report of the school in the cen- 
tennial year, 1876, gives an accurate account of its condition 
at that time : " The Sunday-school connected with the Cen- 
tral Methodist Episcopal Church on Hudson Street is rapid- 
ly growing in numbers. It meets every Sunday afternoon 
at 2:30 o'clock, and the children are always prompt in their 
attendance and all take a lively interest in the exercises. 
The following figures show the statistics of the school at 
the close of the year 1876: Officers, 8; teachers, 19; schol- 
ars on register, 150; average attendance, 117; largest at- 
tendance, 142; number in primary class, 35; deaths, 1; 
volumes in library, 340. The officers of the school are : J. 
Willet Bynon, Superintendent; Ambrose Hill, Assistant 
Superintendent ; Miss Sarah Beckham, lady Superintend- 
ent ; Charles P. Bynon, Secretary ; Obadiah Eddy, Treas- 
urer ; Charles Hill, Librarian ; O. C. Eddy and Charles 
Peck, Assistant Librarians. The teachers are : Miss Sarah 
Beckham, Miss Mary Hill, Miss Matilda Duff, Miss Kate 
Carpenter, Miss Martha J. Bynon, Miss Julia Kipp, Miss 
Etta Stephenson, Miss J. V. Bynon, Mrs. Howlett, Mrs. Geo. 
Halsey, Miss E. J. Morris, Mrs. Ellen E. Masten, Mrs. David 
Oakley, Messrs. Searing Howell, John Forsyth, George Car- 
ter, George Halsey, Edward Slade, John Carpenter, William 
Briggs, and J. Relyea. Searing Howell has a large Bible- 
class of young men, and Mrs. Sarah Howell is the earnest 
teacher of a large class of adults which gathers in the gal- 
lery of the church." 

In 1884 the school had on the record-book 241 scholars 
and twenty-seven officers and teachers. 

In May, 1888, at the suggestion and through the efforts 



CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH. 39 1 

of the pastor, a young people's society was organized. It 
was called the " Lyceum of the Central Methodist Episcopal 
Church of Yonkers, N. Y." The object of this lyceum is 
the spiritual, moral, and intellectual improvement, the en- 
largement of personal influence, and the enjoyment of 
Christian fellowship, and to develop facilities for religious 
culture, mental improvement, and social intercourse of its 
members. Devotional, membership, entertainment, and vis- 
itation committees were appointed. 

The first entertainment of the lyceum was held Thurs- 
day evening, January 3, 1889, before a large audience, in the 
lecture-room. President John C. Stilwell announced the 
programme, in which Dr. R. A. Fones, Mrs. James Dykes, 
Miss Darwood, Charles H. Crow, and S. C. Van Tassell took 
part. The reading of the first number of the " Ventilator," 
the society paper, by its editor, S. Joseph Lawrence, con- 
cluded the entertainment. The reading of the first number 
consumed over half an hour of time. The contents were 
all original. Among the contributed articles was an inter- 
esting account by S. C. Van Tassell of his experiences be- 
fore Charleston at the close of the war, in 1865 — the writer 
having been in service on the monitor " Mahopac." 

This paper is issued bi-monthly and read at the lyceum 
entertainments. Its contents are made up of essays, sketch- 
es, poems, etc., by any members who desire to contribute. 
The proceeds of these entertainments are devoted to the 
society's expenses and are contributed to the church work. 
The lyceum now numbers eighty members. Its officers 
are : John Matthews, President ; John C. Stilwell and Miss 
Jennie Serrell, Vice-Presidents ; Miss Fannie RadclifT, Sec- 
retary ; Mrs. R. Nickerson, Treasurer. 

The circle of the King's Daughters connected with 
this school is called " The Central Circle." The officers 
are : Miss Ida Skipper, President ; Miss Nellie Bynon, Sec- 
retary. The members of this circle contributed $50 towards 
the parsonage fund in November, 1888. They are now con- 
sidering plans for future work. 

At the Christmas festival of 1888 Alfred W. Serrell, 
Superintendent, presided, and after an interesting pro- 
gramme of music and readings, in which Eddie Bynon, 



392 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

John B. Forsyth, Rev. Dr. Darwood, Miss Alice Codding- 
ton, Emma Serrell, Ena Serrell, Lillie Stevens, Evie Serrell^ 
Ida Skipper, Edith Barnes, Gertie Odell, Susie B. RadclifT, 
Carrie Van Tassell, Jennie Serrell, Bessie Eldredge, Louise 
Frost, Harold Hobson, Willie Littebrandt, and others took 
part, candies and fruits were distributed among the schol- 
ars and there were reciprocal presentations among teach- 
ers and their classes. Superintendent Serrell received a 
handsome gold-headed ebony cane, and Assistant George 
W. Christian an elegant silk umbrella, from the school. 

Children's Day is observed by the school, the services 
being held in the church usually and sometimes conducted 
by the pastor. On Sunday morning, June 9, 1889, the chil- 
dren filled two-thirds of the room, and their pretty summer 
dresses and happy faces, combined with the abundance of 
beautiful flowers on person and on pulpit, made a very 
pleasing scene. Superintendent A. W. Serrell was in 
charge, and the children sang with spirit and took part in 
the responsive readings. 

Recitations were given by Nellie Veitch, Louise Frost, 
Emma Paulding, Ella Miller, and Willie Littebrandt, and 
Ena and Lulu Serrell sang a duet with chorus. Several 
infants were baptized. Rev. Dr. Darwood's address was 
short, appropriate, and interesting. Six young ladies 
passed around the contribution baskets, and a goodly sum 
was raised for the work of educating boys for the min- 
istry. 

The school enjoyed another of its delightful annual 
excursions on Wednesday, July 10, 1889, going by the iron 
steamer "Sirius " to Laurelton Grove, Cold Spring Harbor, 
Long Island Sound. The music was furnished by Bright's 
band. The Sunday-schools of the Reformed and First and 
Central Methodist Churches united on that excursion. 

The Christmas festival for 1889 was given in the lec- 
ture-room of the church. Superintendent Alfred W. Ser- 
rell presided and directed the singing of the school, of 
which there was considerable, which was well done. Miss 
Serrell at the organ and Edward Bynon at the piano ac- 
companied. 

Presiding Elder A. J. Palmer made the opening prayer. 



CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH. 393 

Recitations were given by Georgie Gorse, Jessie Stilwell, 
Herbert W. Stilwell, Charlie Stevens, Clifford Stevens, Lot- 
tie Starr, Blanche Hepenstal, and Jessie Hepenstal. 

The second part of the entertainment consisted of a 
cantata of " Santa Claus and Mother Goose," in which the 
following costumed characters were represented : 

Santa Claus Peter Soetemon. 

Mother Goose ------ Miss Dora Wheaton. 

Jack - Alfred Serrell. 

Jill --- Miss Ena Serrell. 

Daffy-Down-Dilly Miss Nellie Veitch. 

Humpty Dumpty ------ William Caddoo. 

Bo-Peep ------ r Miss Louise Frost. 

Jolly Miller Harry Pickens. 

Jack Horner Leslie Stevens, 

Sky Sweeper Miss Laura Hubbell. 

Polly Flinders Miss Lulu Serrell. 

Boy Blue William Littebrandt. 

Miss Muffet Miss Emma Serrell. 

Mother Hubbard Miss Alice Coddington. 

Mistress Mary ------ Miss Lillian Stevens. 

Tommy Tucker Edward Bynon. 

King Cole E. M. Yerks. 

Little Child ------ Miss Bessie Eldredge. 

Santa Claus Soetemon, at the close of the cantata, pre- 
sented the prizes and gifts to scholars and teachers. Rev. 
Dr. Darwood, the pastor, pronounced the benediction. 

A Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was 
organized Wednesday night, January 29, 1890, with about 
thirty-five members and these officers : J. D. Van O. Linda, 
President ; J. C. Stilwell, Vice-President ; Miss Longley, 
Corresponding Secretary ; Miss Fannie E. RadclirT, Record- 
ing Secretary ; Miss Darwood, Treasurer. 

The musical and literary exercises of the Christmas 
festival of the Central Methodist school were held in the 
church on December 30, 1890. They consisted of a cantata 
by W. Howard Doane, entitled "Santa Claus," performed 
by about fifty young ladies, young gentlemen, and children, 
upon a large platform which had been, erected over the 
altar. Although an admission fee of twenty-five cents was 
charged to all non-members of the school, the church was 
nearly filled. 



394 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Theodore Courtright was trie musical director; Miss 
Lillian P. Courtright, piano accompanist. The best sing- 
ing in the cantata was done by the chorus, which had 
been well drilled by the director ; the volume and quality 
of tone was excellent. Prominent parts were taken as fol- 
lows, the solo singing being sweet and pleasing : 

Duet — When the Shepherds - - Miss Carrie Van Tassell and Miss 

Medora M. Wheaton. 
Solo — Invocation to Joy ------ Miss Jennie Serrell. 

Quintette — 'Tis Merry Christmas - Miss Louise Worden, Miss Grace 

Eldredge, Miss Alice Coddington, Alfred W. Serrell, and Harry Picken. 

Solo — The Wonderful Song ------ Miss Ena Serrell. 

Duet — Gentle Hope, Your Pretty Secret - Miss Evie Serrell and Miss 

Laura Hubbell. 
Solo — Sombody 's Coming ----- Miss Nellie Hubbell. 

The Prayer Song - Carrie Oakley, Florence Coddington, Olie Otis, Ethel 
Jackson, Grace Barker, Clifford Stevens, and Willie Maloy. 

Solo — The Lullaby Song Miss Louisa Frost. 

Trio — The Fairy Blessing - - Bessie Eldredge, Jessie Stilwell, and 

May Bradt. 
Piano Solo — Reindeer Galop - - - - Miss Lillian P. Courtright. 
Solo — Santa Claus' Greeting ----- Alfred W. Serrell. 

Nellie Veitch, Lulu Serrell, Emma Paulding, Ella Mil- 
ler, and Willie Fox had prominent parts also. 

After the cantata the school descended to the lecture- 
room, where all the children were made happy with gifts 
of books, candies, oranges, etc. There were a number of 
special presents. 

The Primary Department meets in a small room ad- 
joining the main room. It is properly equipped and fur- 
nished with an organ, blackboard, and all that is necessary 
and which is convenient to impart instruction in this in- 
teresting class of Sunday-school work. Its teachers have 
been Miss Hannah Cokalete, Miss Helen Masten, and Mrs. 
Dinsmore, who was assisted by Miss Mildred Kear. It is 
now under the guidance of Mrs. Charles P. Bynon, who is 
assisted by Miss Evie Serrell, who acts as organist and 
leader of the singing, and Miss Courtright. 

Mrs. Bynon has had charge of this department since 
January, 1883. She is deeply interested in her work. That 
her lessons are intelligently and conscientiously prepared 
is evident from the interest and attention which are mani- 



CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH. 395 

fested by her class. Under her prayerful instructions it 
has met with marked success. The International Series of 
Lessons is taught with the Methodist catechism and com- 
mandments. The contributions of the class are donated to 
the benevolent fund of the school. The " Picture Lesson 
Paper" is circulated in this department. The present 
attendance is 115. 

A handsome certificate, upon which is the figure of 
John Wesley holding a Bible on which is inscribed his 
dying utterance, " The best of all is, God is with us," is 
presented to each pupil upon his becoming a member of 
the school, and a certificate of dismission is also given to 
each scholar upon leaving the school to enter another. 
The late Superintendent, A. W. Serrell, has in his posses- 
sion the certificate of his admission to his first Sunday- 
school. 

The pastors' wives' have always been identified with 
the school, and often the classes taught by them have been 
the largest in the school. Mrs. Alexander McLean, a for- 
mer pastor's wife, had charge of a large adult class during 
her husband's pastorate. She was eminently successful in 
her work, and is held in loving remembrance by her for- 
mer pupils, some of whom became teachers in the school. 
Mrs. Charles W. Millard also had a large adult class, and 
from that class a large number were added to the commu- 
nion of the church while under her charge. The present 
pastor's wife, Mrs. W. McKendree Darwood, has a class of 
twelve young ladies. 

The largest adult Bible-class is composed of men and 
women, some of whom are heads of families, and at pres- 
ent is taught by Alfred T. Serrell. From these classes the 
classes of teachers whp are temporarily absent are supplied 
with teachers. These classes are the training classes of 
the future teachers of the school. 

The teachers who have been connected with the school 
ever since its organization and who are still there are John 
Forsyth, J. Willet Bynon, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. 
Bynon ; the latter, since her connection with the school, 
being absent but one year on account of serious illness. 
These teachers and officers, for their long-continued servi- 



396 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

ces in the school, are enrolled upon the honorary list of 
Sunday-school workers in Yonkers. 

During the year 1888 and in the early part of 1889 
there was received into the communion of the church 
quite a large accession from the Sunday-school as the result 
of the faithful and prayerful efforts of the pastor, Rev. Dr. 
Darwood, and the superintendent and teachers. 

The members of the Sunday-school presented the 
church with a handsome Chickering piano in 1888 for use 
in the weekly services of the church as well as for the 
Sunday-school. 

The school is self-supporting and contributes from 
$150 to $200 annually for missionary purposes. Teachers' 
meetings are held monthly. 

During Mr. Serrell's superintendency special attention 
was given by him to the cultivation of the musical talents 
of the children and in the selection of the best and most 
appropriate hymns for Sunday-school use. His administra- 
tive and business ability was manifested in the manage- 
ment of the school, which under his superintendency 
nearly doubled in numbers. A noteworthy item in con- 
nection with his work in the school is that he was never 
late at any of its sessions nor absent unless out of the city. 

Mrs. William H. Veitch served the school, as its lady 
Superintendent, efficiently for nine years. 

The Junior Ep worth League — recently organized — is 
composed of the younger members of the Sunday-school. 
Under the excellent leadership of the pastor's wife, Mrs. 
McK. Darwood, they are being trained in methods of Chris- 
tian work. 

George W. Christian was the Assistant Superintendent 
of the school for three years, also the Secretary of the Mis. 
sionary Society for three years. 

The superintendents in the order of service, so far as 
can be ascertained, have been : Cyrus F. Moulton, elected 
October 23, 1870, J. Willet Bynon, Morris Valentine, Solo- 
mon D. Oakley, Acting Superintendent, Sherburne C. Van 
Tassell, Alfred W. Serrell, who was elected in May, 1884, 
and served till April, 1891, and Theodore Courtright, 
elected May, 1891. 






CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH. 397 

The present officers, May, 1891, are: Theodore Court- 
right, Superintendent ; Alfred W. Serrell, Vice-Superin- 
tendent ; Mrs. J. C. Wheaton, Lady Superintendent ; S. C. 
Van Tassell, Secretary ; Harry Picken, Assistant Secretary ; 
J. W. Bynon, Treasurer ; Charles Lindale, Librarian ; Les- 
lie Stevens, first Assistant Librarian ; J. Irving Van Tas- 
sell, second Assistant Librarian ; Edward Bynon, third As- 
sistant Librarian ; Edward Bynon, Organist. 

The record book of the school for 1889-91 includes the 
following teachers : Mrs. R. Barnes, Miss Barrett, Miss S. 
Beckham, Mrs. Charles P. Bynon, Mrs. Dinsmore, Mrs. W. 
McK. Darwood, Mrs. F. Howlett, Miss Laura Hubbell, Mrs. 
A. T. Kear, Mrs. J. W. Bynon, Miss A. Pickens, Mrs. Rhodes, 
Mrs. J. C. Wheaton, Miss A. Webb, Miss Ada Webb, Mrs. 
John Woodruff, Miss L. Worden, Miss E. Serrell, Mrs. G. 
W. Christian, Miss Cora Otis, Miss N. Bennett, Miss Sadie 
Woodruff, Miss Codington, Miss Dora Wheaton, Miss M. 
M. Wheaton, Mrs. J. Slim, Mrs. H. H. Meeks, Mrs. A. 
Tompkins, Miss C. A. Van Tassell, Miss E. Barnes, Miss A. 
Barnard, Miss S. Radcliff, Miss F. RadclifT, Mrs. A. E. 
Eldredge, Charles P. Bynon, J. W. Bynon, A. E. Eldredge, 
John Matthews, S. D. Oakley, John Slim, William J. Tomp- 
kins, John Van Winkle, Sherburne C. Van Tassell, G. W. 
Christian, Chas. Oakley, Ambus Hill, John Breen, and M. 
Diets. Primary Department : teachers, Mrs. C. P. Bynon, 
Superintendent ; Assistant, Miss Lillian Courtright. 

The number of officers and teachers is 38 ; number of 
pupils, 325 ; number of library books, 470. 

The singing books used by the school are the " Ep- 
worth Hymnal " and " Songs of Joy and Gladness." 

The lesson helps are the Berean graded series of ques- 
tion books, published by Hunt & Eaton, New York, and 
the " Sunday-school Journal." 



398 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH AND 
SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The first religious effort put forth in Yonkers in behalf 
of the colored people was in the year 1 860-61, when William 
Griffin, a member of the First Methodist Church, assisted 
by several others whose names cannot be recalled, hired a 
small room in a cottage on Guion Street, in the vicinity of 
the Mansion House. How long meetings were held there 
cannot be ascertained. 

In the years following a small company of these people 
gathered in a room in the skin factory building, near the 
corner of Nepperhan Avenue and Mechanic (now New 
Main) Street. This room has become historic in connection 
with church and Sunday-school history in Yonkers, as be- 
ing the birthplace of the Nepperhan Avenue Baptist Mis- 
sion Sunday-school and of the Westminster Church. 

Their next place of meeting was in Flagg's Hall, on 
Mechanic Street. At that time the meetings were under 
the auspices of the Union Church Society (colored) of New 
York city, which sent members to conduct these meetings. 
How long they were held it cannot be definitely ascertained, 
but some time after their discontinuance the enterprise was 
again re-commenced by William Griffin, James Lawson, and 
Warren Purdy, who succeeded in obtaining the fire engine 
house on Chicken Island, which was located on what is 
now Post Lane. 

It was there the enterprise began to grow, and the 
meetings were well attended. The services of members 
from other churches were secured, and prominent among 
them was Dr. Gabriel P. Reevs, who rendered them valua- 
ble services, as he did also in Townsend Hall, No. 50 North 
Broadway, which was their next place of meeting. It was 
in this hall that Francis J. Moultrie began his work in con- 
nection with this mission enterprise and rendered efficient 
service. 



AFRICAN ZION METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 399 

The Westminster Presbyterian Church shortly after 
took up the work, as stated by Rev. Lewis W. Mudge in 
his historical discourse of the Westminster Presbyterian 
Church, from which we quote : " The work was commenced 
by the efficient Bible-reader, Mrs. Lizzie Russell, who was 
in the employ of our church from the summer of 1867 to 
the beginning of 1870. Owing to the great success of this 
work, Mr. Theo. Leggett, now Rev. Theo. Leggett, pastor 
of the Presbyterian Church of Chester, N. Y., was engaged 
two years during the vacations of the seminary and a con- 
siderable portion of one term. He preached regularly to this 
people on the Sabbath, first in a store on the west side of 
North Broadway, between Wells Avenue and Dock Street, 
afterwards in the hall on the east side opposite. After the 
close of his engagement, at the request of the colored 
people, the gallery in the rear of the church was accorded 
to them. During all this time also a weekly prayer- 
meeting was held for them at the house of Mrs. Russell, 
and under the charge of Mr. Rich, the pastor generally 
being present. In 1870, against the advice of myself and 
others, they determined to organize a church. For five 
years they have been struggling, but can hardly be called 
established as yet. This church is also properly a child of 
ours." 

Such were the steps which led to the organization of 
the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the first col- 
ored church in Yonkers. After leaving Townsend Hall, 
the little congregation worshipped in Rooney Hall, on 
North Broadway. This hall was formerly over what is 
now known as Weller and Welsh's large dry-goods store. 
After remaining there for a time they returned to Town- 
send Hall. 

It was also in Townsend Hall that we learn, from the 
testimony of one who attended these meetings, that the first 
communion service which was administered to a colored 
congregation in Yonkers was conducted by Rev. David 
Cole, D. D., pastor of the Reformed Church of Yonkers. 
The mission was then known simply as the Colored Church 
of Yonkers, although no formal organization had been 
effected. 



400 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The church was organized with ten members in Town- 
send Hall in May, 1871, by Rev. Jacob Thomas (now Rev. 
Dr. Thomas) of the New York Conference of the A. M. E. 
Zion Church of America. From here they went to a build- 
ing erected for them on North Broadway, near Wells Ave- 
nue, by Thomas C. Cornell. After this was removed, they 
occupied for a brief period the basement of the First Pres- 
byterian Church from 1884 to 1885, kindly tendered to them 
by the trustees of that church, until they found a perma- 
nent resting-place in their church which was erected on 
New Main Street near Kellinger Street. 

William Griffin'* was chairman of the organization 
meeting. 

* Born in 181 1, passed out of earth life to a heavenly on January 5, 
1888, William H. Griffin, of Yonkers, in the 77th year of his age. 

Funeral services were held in the chapel of the First Methodist Church, 
on Sunday, January 8. They were conducted by his pastor, Rev. George 
E. Strobridge, D. D., who said : 

We are called to the funeral of no ordinary man, and we are gathered 
here as sincere mourners. We are not here to eulogize his character. 
The best thing we can say of him is that he gave his heart in early man- 
hood to his Saviour. He listened to the voice of the Holy Spirit and gave 
his heart to Christ and his hand to His church. He became a member of 
this church under the pastorate of the Rev. J. D. Bangs, in the year 1837, 
and he has outlived almost all the members of this church at that time. 

He was a good man. That is a great thing to say of any man. We 
may say of a man that he is a rich, a learned, an honorable man ; but to 
say of a man that he is a good man means much. He was remarkable for 
his cleanness of hand and heart. He was never known to cheat any one 
out of a single dollar, nor injure by a single word the reputation of 
any one. 

A Christian friend, while visiting him during his last illness, asked 
him in regard to his faith in the Saviour, when he replied, " I trust in the 
blood of Christ. I can do no more. He saves, and he alone. Jesus' 
blood cleanses from all sin." He was a generous man, and gave to this 
church liberally. He was not a rich man. All he secured was a little two- 
story frame house ; but he was a hard-working man, as you well know, and 
every dollar he dug out of the earth by hard labor. He never declined 
an appeal for money. A sister in this church once asked him for a con- 
tribution towards a benevolent object. He put a sum into her hand which 
surprised her, and she said, " Have n 't you made a mistake ?" He replied, 
" No, I want you to have all of it." 

He gave steadily and conscientiously. When I came to Yonkers he 
came to see me, as I thought, to call upon me as his pastor, as I had so 
recently come. I well remember how he came tremblingly up the steps, 
leaning upon his cane, and put his contribution for the new church into 



AFRICAN ZION METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 4OI 

James Lawson, Madison Milford, Francis Moultrie, Isaac 
Peeke, Albert Skinner, and Harrison Ward composed the 
first board of trustees of the church. Of the original ten 
members, but one — James Lawson — remains in the com- 
munion of the church at this time. 

The corner-stone of their church building was laid on 
Wednesday afternoon, October 15, 1884. Rev. R. H. G. 
Dyson, of New York, announced the opening hymn, and 
Rev. G. E. Smith, of Brooklyn, offered prayer, which was 
following by Scriptural readings by Rev. J. Thomas, of New 
York. Rev. John Reid delivered the address and was fol- 
lowed by Rev. C. E. Allison. The corner-stone was laid 
by Rev. Dr. David Cole, of the Reformed Church of Yon- 
kers. Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., who by their request acted as 
treasurer of the building fund of this church, was also in- 
vited to participate in these exercises, but was unable to be 
present. On the corner-stone is simply inscribed " 1884." 
Within the stone was placed a copy of the Scriptures and 
names of the former pastors and officers of the church. 

The dedicatory exercises were held on Sunday after- 
noon, April 12, 1885. Right Rev. S. S. Jones, Bishop of 
the first district, and Rev. H. W. Decker, Presiding Elder 
of the district, conducted the exercises. The music was 
furnished by the choir of Little Zion Church, of New York, 
J. H. Davis, organist ; Mrs. A. Smith, first soprano ; Miss 
E. Grier, second soprano ; Miss Jenefer, alto ; Mrs. Decker, 
alto ; Mr. Morris, basso. 

my hands. He loved this church, and it is proud to have the name of 
William Griffin inscribed on its record book, as it was written years ago 
in the " Lamb's Book of Life " when he gave his heart to Jesus. 

A few days before his decease he said to a member of his family, and 
one whom he loved as a son and who loved him as a father, " There are 
two things I would like to do. I would like to go out to the cemetery 
where I used to work, and look around and see if everything is right. 
And I would like to go down and see the new church." But God did not 
gratify his wishes. 

You know what his occupation was, and how often he could say with 
the old sexton, "I gather them in, I gather them in." And he did his 
work very tenderly, as many know. 

William Griffin was a simple, modest, earnest working Christian. 
"Servant of God, well done." His character can be epitomized in these 
words : " Let me die the death of the righteous." 

Sunday-school Work, 26 



402 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The church was filled to overflowing, many being un- 
able to obtain seats long before the exercises began. The 
dedicatory sermon was by Rev. John Reid, the pastor of 
the First Presbyterian Church, Yonkers, from the text, 
" Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the 
Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" i Cor. 3:16, which was 
followed by an address by William Allen Butler. A finan- 
cial statement of the church was read by Walter W. Law, 
after which the Bishop proceeded with the dedicatory ser- 
vice according to the ritual of the church. The services 
closed with singing, and the benediction by Rev. David 
Cole, D. D., of the Reformed Church. 

At the dedication of the church there was a debt of 
$1,500 upon it. The building is 28 J by 54 feet. It is a neat 
wooden structure with colored glass windows. The audi- 
torium will seat five hundred persons. A small gallery is 
at the west end. It has two aisles extending the length 
of the auditorium. The cost of the church building was 
$6,500. James and George Stewart were the builders. The 
building committee was composed of Wm. Allen Butler, 
Ethan Flagg, and Walter W. Law, all members of the First 
Presbyterian Church of Yonkers. 

The pastors of this church have been : Rev. Isaac Jen- 
kins; Rev. Adam Jackson ; Rev. George E.Jackson, 1875 
until 1877; Rev. J. Davis, six weeks; Rev. J. C. Dodge, 
one year ; Rev. E. J. Miller, 1879 to 1881 ; Rev. William Dor- 
sey, seventeen months; Rev. J. A. Evans; Rev. George E. 
Jackson, 1 883-1 885 ; Rev. Charles H. Teneyck, 1886 to 1890. 

The late pastor of the church, Rev. Charles H. Ten- 
eyck, eldest son of Theodore and Susan Teneyck, was born 
in Athens, Greene County, N. Y. He received his early 
education at the public schools. 

After varied experiences in the service of the United 
States and also in the British employ, he was converted in 
a church in Brooklyn, and served as class-leader in that 
church for three years. 

He began the study of theology under Rev. Nathaniel 
Stubbs. In 1883 Mr. Teneyck joined the itineracy and 
was ordained elder in 1885. He came from his former 
charge in Fishkill to his late charge in Yonkers, May 






AFRICAN ZION METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 403 

17, 1886. On entering upon this charge he found the 
church in debt to the amount of $900. Through the vigor- 
ous efforts of his congregation he succeeded in paying it 
off. The church is, at this writing, free from debt. Rev. 
Mr. Teneyck's pastorate was very successful. 

Improvements which have added to the value of the 
church have been made which have cost $273. The mem- 
bership has gradually increased and the Sunday-school has 
been built up. There has been a good attendance at the 
Sunday and weekly services. 

The church contributed for the cause of benevolence 
in 1888, as reported in the minutes of the sixty-seventh 
session of the A. M. E. Zion Church' Conference, $52 61. 

The present membership of the church is fifty-four, 
twenty-five of whom were received during the pastorate 
of Rev. Mr. Teneyck. The present pastor is Rev. T. T. 
Thomas, settled May, 1891. 

The present valuation of the church property is $9,000. 
The board of trustees is composed of these gentlemen : F. J. 
Moultrie, President ; William Lee, Secretary ; A. Whedon, 
Treasurer ; Jacob Peel, A. Skinner, J. Lisby, Jere. Webb. 

The class-leaders are Thomas Brooks and Francis J. 
Moultrie. 

The stewardesses are Mrs. Sarah Jackson, Mrs. G. 
Brown, Miss Annie Johnson, Miss Jennie Maxwell, and 
Misses Cornelia and Gertrude Stewart. 

The communion service was presented by a member 
of the First Presbyterian Church. 

The pulpit Bible was presented by the American Tract 
Society, October 13, 1883. Inscription upon it, "A. M. E. 
Zion Church, Yonkers, Xew York." 

The organist is William Henry Oliver, who has effi- 
ciently served in that position for seven years, three years 
of which were free of charge. 

The Sunday services are at 10 : 45 A. M. and 7 : 30 P. M. 
Sunday-school at 3 : 30 P. M. General prayer-meeting Wed- 
nesday evening at 8 o'clock. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

This Sunday-school was organized July 12, 1874, in 



404 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Townsend Hall, No. 50 North Broadway, by Gabriel P. 
Reevs, M. D., an elder in the Reformed Church, with 
about ten scholars. Dr. Reevs was assisted by his sons 
Gabriel and Bethune M., and his daughter Mary subse- 
quently served as organist for a brief period. 

The following printed notice of this school gives ac- 
count of their first Christmas festival : " The praiseworthy 
work in the A. M. E. Zion Church Sunday-school is carried 
on most efficiently yet very quietly by its superintendent, 
Gabriel P. Reevs, M. D. A very pleasant Christmas festi- 
val was held on December 25, 1875. Addresses were made 
by Rev. David Cole, D. D., of the Reformed Church, and 
Rev. Lewis W. Mudge, of the Westminster Presbyterian 
Church. The children, who numbered thirty-nine, were 
made happy by an abundant supply of grapes, nuts, oranges, 
and candy." 

The following is from a printed report of the school in 
February of the centennial year, 1 876 : " This Sunday-school, 
still in its infancy, is well attended every Sunday in the 
hall over Rooney's store, on North Broadway. The follow- 
ing are its statistics for the past year : Officers, 2 ; teachers, 
4 ; scholars on register, 40; average attendance, 25; deaths, 
2; volumes in library, 10: receipts, $15; expenditures, 
$40. All moneys collected have been expended for Sun- 
day-schools in Liberia, Africa. The officers of the school : 
Gabriel P. Reevs, M. D., Superintendent and Treasurer ; 
Gabriel Reevs, Librarian. These, with Miss A. M. See and 
Robert Reevs, constitute the corps of teachers." 

In 1878 Dr. Reevs resigned the superintendency of the 
school, thinking that its interest would be best served by 
having a superintendent from among their own people. 
The resignation was accepted, and the pastor, Rev. George 
Jackson, took charge, and appointed Wm. F. Marshall as 
his assistant. Miss Young acted as secretary. The number 
of teachers was six, and number of scholars sixty. The 
infant-class numbered eighteen. The names of teachers at 
that time cannot be ascertained, as the school record was lost. 

The next record of this school is in November, 1887, 
the superintendent being Wm. H. Lee. At that date the 
school occupied their present room in the basement of the 



AFRICAN ZION METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 405 

church on New Main Street. The teachers were Mrs. 
Thornton, Mrs. Adam, Mrs. Wilford, Miss Oliver, Miss A. 
Wood, Miss Hicks, and Messrs. Whedon, Jones, Thornton, 
and Lisby. Number of scholars on record-book, forty-five. 

The school had a very pleasant picnic in 1886 at Fort 
Lee on the Hudson River. In 1887 an enjoyable day was 
spent at Coney Island. They realized by this excursion above 
expenses $5, which was appropriated to the school expenses. 

The annual picnic was held in 1888 in September, in 
a grove on Central Avenue, Yonkers, to which place they 
were taken by stages. The day was pleasantly spent in 
2fam.es and social intercourse with friends of the school and 
church. This also was a financial success. 

The Christmas festival of 1888 was held in the church 
on Friday evening. The programme of exercises was as fol- 
lows : Singing — "Christmas Bells." Prayer— Rev. Charles 
Bass. Scripture reading by pastor, Rev. Chas. H. Teneyck. 
Singing, " Strike, Strike for Victory." The following mem- 
bers of the school took part in these exercises: Mary De 
Forest, Mary Holland, Violet Oliver, Anna Wood, Louisa 
Wood, Francis Jennett, Henry Hart, Samuel Houston, and 
Wm. Brooks. The closing hymn, " Joy to the World," was 
sung, after which the Christmas gifts were distributed by 
the superintendent, John Lisby. 

Children's Day is annually observed by the school with 
appropriate exercises. On Sunday afternoon, July 21, 1889, 
these consisted of singing by the children and an excellent 
address by the pastor, Rev. Charles H. Teneyck, who spoke 
of the work and needs of Livingstone College, N. C, which 
institution of learning is under the direction and control 
of the A. M. E. Zion Church in America, and of the advan- 
tages which this institution afforded to indigent students 
who desired to procure an education. The collection tak- 
en, which was 88, was appropriated to this object. 

The pastor was followed by Francis J. Moultrie, who' 
gave personal reminiscences of his early Sunday-school 
days, and urged upon the children to earnestly and faith- 
fully improve their advantages, which were far superior to 
what he enjoyed. 

The church was tastefully decorated with flowers, and 



406 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

the exercises on that occasion will long be remembered 
with pleasure by all who were present. 

The scholars of this Sunday-school enjoyed their Christ- 
mas festival on Thursday evening, January 2, 1890, at the 
church. The attendance of friends was large. W. H. Lee, 
the Superintendent, presided ; Miss Carrie Oliver led the 
singing, and Henry Oliver played the organ. The opening 
prayer was offered by Thomas Brooks. 

Besides the singing of carols by the school, a soprano 
solo was sung by Mrs. Madison ; and recitations were given 
as follows : " The Brook Song," by Frances Washington ; 
" Take These Flowers," by Ettie Cornell ; " Break, Break," 
by Willie Brooks. Four little girls, Frances Washington, 
Ettie Cornell, Sarah Oliver, and Mary Jones, spoke a dia- 
logue. 

After the distribution of the gifts, which consisted of 
candies, cakes, and oranges, and the presentation of the 
books, etc., given as prizes for good attendance and good 
work, the scholars were treated to ice-cream and cake. 

The school has a local missionary society which was 
organized by the pastor, Rev. Charles H. Teneyck, in July, 
1888. The membership fee is five cents per month. If a 
member is ill he receives $1 per month as long as his ill- 
ness lasts. In case he dies his parents receive $10 towards 
the funeral expenses. The present officers of the society 
are : William Brooks, President ; Etta Cornell, Treasurer ; 
Sarah Oliver, Secretary. 

The school contributed, in 1887, $10 50 towards home 
missions, and in 1888 $14 towards the same object. 

The school is self-supporting. It has a handsome silk 
banner upon which are embroidered a cross and a crown 
and the words "Zion A. M. E. Sunday-school." The class 
banner is also silk and is held by the class which contrib- 
uted the most money during the preceding month. This 
'banner was presented by Mrs. William Hicks. 

In 1887 five from the school united with the church, 
and in 1888 -three. 

Teachers' meetings are held monthly. 

Mrs. Rebecca Madison is among the honorary list of 
Sunday-school teachers in connection with this school. 



AFRICAN ZION METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 407 

The entertainments which have been held from time 
to time for the benefit of this church and Sunday-school 
have been especially delightful in cultivating a kindly 
social feeling among the congregation and its friends. They 
have also always proven financial successes, considerable 
money being raised over and above their expenses. They 
have reflected much credit upon the executive ability of 
the committees who have had them in charge, and also in- 
dicated the liberality of those who have attended them. 

The teacher of the primary class is Miss Maggie Hicks, 
who is assisted by Miss Florence Oliver. It numbers ten 
pupils. " The Children's Picture Paper" is distributed. 
The total number of pupils is seventy, with an average 
attendance of forty-eight. 

The pastor delivered two sermons to children during 
1889, one being on the subject of temperance. 

There are three hundred volumes in the Sunday-school 
library. The singing book used by the school is " Pure 
Gold." The lesson helps are the " Sunday-school Worker," 
by Bishop J. J. Moore, and the " Sunday-school Quarterly," 
the publications of the A. M. E. Zion Church Society. 

The International Lesson Series is taught in the school. 

The school is governed by a board of directors, who 
assist the superintendent and attend to the business mat- 
ters of the school. This board consists of George B. Jones, 
Isaac B. Lewis, and Miss Young. 

The superintendents in their order of service, so far as 
can be ascertained, have been Gabriel P. Reevs, M. D., 
Rev. George Jackson, Willam F. Marshall, William Lee, 
John Lisby, and the present superintendent, William Lee, 
elected August, 1889. 

The present officers of the school are, William Lee, 
Superintendent, George Jones, Assistant Superintendent; 
Henry Oliver, Secretary ; and Miss M. Cornell, Treasurer. 
The teachers are: Rev. T. T. Thomas, of adult Bible- 
class ; Mrs. Rebbeca Madison, Miss Maggie Young, Miss 
Maggie Hicks, Miss Florence Oliver, Mrs. Mary B. Ganie, 
Mrs. A. Cornell, Alex. Whedon, and George Jones. Teach- 
ers of primary class : Miss Maggie Hicks and Miss Flor- 
ence Oliver. The leader of the singing is Miss Oliver. 



408 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

ST. JOHN'S GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. 

The first religious effort put forth among the German 
population of Yonkers was by the Westminster Presby- 
terian Church of this city, which is noted in the historical 
sermon of that church delivered by the Rev. Lewis Ward 
Mudge, in July, 1876, as follows: 

"Early in the spring of i860, under the pastorate of 
Rev. Mr. Sawyer, the collection of the church for ministe- 
rial education was voted to Mr. (now Professor) H. D. 
Wrage, then a student in the senior class of New York Sem- 
inary, and he was invited to come to Yonkers and preach 
to the Germans on the Sabbath, at 4 p. m. Between fifty 
and sixty were present. Mr. Wrage was requested to 
continue his services at a stated stipend, and he did so, 
as a rule, on alternate Sabbaths, until the early fall, when, 
being free from other engagements, he made a thorough 
canvass of the village, finding over one hundred German 
families, averaging three adults, most of whom did not un- 
derstand English sufficiently to follow a sermon. Mr. 
Wrage was then engaged from the 1st of November, i860, 
at a salary of $800 per annum. The use of the hall corner 
Wells avenue and Broadway was given by the church to 
the Germans. Archibald Baxter agreed to give $250 if the 
church would give the same, the remainder to be secured, 
if possible, from the Germans. Mr. W. F. Lee was ap- 
pointed treasurer, Messrs. Baxter and Nairn advisory com- 
mittee, and John Davidson solicitor of subscriptions. This 
enterprise resulted in the formation of an independent 
German church, which, after several years' experiment, 
failed. Shortly after my coming to Yonkers the aid of our 
church was again sought, and a number of conferences 
were held between the Germans and myself in which they 
were encouraged to keep their organization. On our part 
cottage prayer-meetings were established at Mrs. Lorenz's 
and Mrs. Arold's. Finally it was decided, after advice with 



ST. JOHN S GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. 409 

others, that a change of organization alone would make the 
church a success. At my suggestion application was made 
to organize them into a Presbyterian church, to be cared 
for until they should succeed in establishing themselves. 
Accordingly, September 2, 1868, this was done in this build- 
ing. Rev. B. Kruesi, of New York, preached the sermon in 
German. A sketch of the past history of work among the 
Germans was read by your pastor, who afterwards in the 
name of the Presbytery effected the organization, Rev. J. 
C. Wirtz acting as interpreter. The address of welcome 
was given by Rev. Wilson Phraner, of Sing Sing. This 
church started with thirty-nine members, many of whom 
were gathered and led to Christ through the instrumentality 
of this church. After one year's existence in this form the 
opportunity long desired came. The orthodox Lutheran 
body agreed to take the church and see to its support." 

The St. John's German Evangelical Lutheran Church 
was founded September 16, 1869, by the following persons : 
Maximilian Joseph Reinf elder, M. D., William E. Beutler, 
Peter Hagen, C. Weltzien, C. Deator, and Charles Kruger. 
Of these original founders but one, William E. Beutler, re- 
mains in the communion of the church. 

The first service of the church was held on September 
18, 1869, in the Mount Olivet Baptist Church on North 
Broadway. The clergyman who officiated was the Rev. 
J. H. Sommer, who also preached in the German church at 
Hastings on Sunday afternoons. Miss Hopke, from Hast- 
ings, presided at the organ and conducted the singing. 

The second place of meeting of this little congregation 
was in a hall now occupied by the Westchester Telephone 
Company, corner of South Broadway and Main Street. 
Rev. J. H. Sommer then became their stated pastor, begin- 
ning his pastorate near the end of 1870. The first baptism 
by Rev. Mr. Sommer was that of a child, Maria Johanna 
Gugle, on September 11, 1870. The first confirmation by 
him also occurred in this hall in the same year, when these 
persons were confirmed : Miss Louise Muller, Miss Sophia 
Kruger, Herman Muller, Julius Weltzien, and Augustus 
Weltzien. 

The next place which was occupied by this church was 



4-IO CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

in a hall over the building on South Broadway, formerly 
occupied by the Yonkers postoffice, opposite Hudson Street, 
on the site now occupied by the station of the New York 
and Northern Railway. The congregation occupied this 
hall for six months ; then they removed to the chapel of St. 
John's Church, which was kindly tendered to them by that 
church, where they worshipped for over a year, until their 
new church edifice on Hudson Street, near Hawthorne 
Avenue, was ready for occupancy. 

On Sunday, August 30, 1874, a large assembly of per- 
sons of all denominations witnessed the ceremony of the 
laying of the corner-stone. A temporary platform was 
erected and was occupied by the choir of the church, Rev. 
Dr. Berkemier, Rev. Mr. Richards, Rev. Leo Koenig, pas- 
tor of the church, and Dr. Maximilian J. Reinf elder, elder 
of the church. F. Muller, Jr., presided at the small church 
organ at the back of the platform. The Sunday-school 
teachers and scholars formed a semi-circle in front of the 
platform. 

The ceremony was opened with prayer by the pastor, 
Rev. Leo Koenig. Dr. Berkemier delivered an address in 
German maintaining the dignity and power of the church> 
against the world were it full of devils, because God was its 
founder and Jesus Christ its corner-stone. 

Rev. Mr. Koenig then introduced Rev. Mr. Richards, 
who delivered an earnest discourse in English from these 
words : " For other foundation can no man lay than that is 
laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 3:11. At the conclusion 
of the discourse Rev. Mr. Richards made an earnest appeal 
to the citizens of Yonkers to support and uphold the new 
church undertaking which was started in their midst, for it 
rested on the truth of Jesus Christ. 

The act of laying the corner-stone was performed by 
Rev. Leo Koenig, the pastor of the church. In the box 
which was placed in the cavity of the stone were the fol- 
lowing articles : Copies of the " Yonkers Gazette/' the 
" Yonkers Statesman," and the " Westchester Zeitung," a 
catechism by Martin Luther, a German Lutheran singing- 
book, a German Bible, " Lutheran Oneroid," " Lutheran 
Misser," " Lutheran Zeitochriff," charter, constitution, and 



ST. JOHNS GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. 41 1 

by-laws of Lutheran Emigrant House of New York, the 
Minutes of the last Synod of the Lutheran Missionary Soci- 
ety of the State of New York, and a copy of the " Jugen 
Frerend." 

The corner-stone, which is of granite, bears this in- 
scription in gilt letters : "St. Johannis Deutsche Evang. 
Lutherische Kirche, Anno Domini 1874." 

'On Sunday, December 13, 1874, the church was dedica- 
ted. Notwithstanding there was a severe storm prevailing 
at the time, the church was completely filled and many were 
obliged to go away unable to obtain entrance. 

The dedicatory service was at ten o'clock in the morn- 
ing, and was conducted in the German language. Rev. 
Justus Ruperti, D. D., pastor of the German Evangelical 
Church of St. Matthew, New York, preached the sermon. 
A service in the English language was held in the after- 
noon at three o'clock. Rev. G. F. Kortel, D. D., President 
of the New York Ministerium, preached the sermon. 

The singing of the children of the Sunday-school on 
this occasion was generally admired. The council of the 
church at the dedication was composed of Rev. Leo Koenig, 
pastor; Dr. Maximilian J. Reinfelder* elder; F. Muller, 
Sr., F. Muller, Jr., Wm. Beutler, J. Dietrich, J. Kolpin, D. 
Jurgens, H. Meinhardt, J. Heinrich, and E. R. Wicht, trus- 
tees. 

The church is a small brick structure with a belfry. It 
stands on Hudson Street, near the corner of Hawthorne 
Avenue. It has a single auditorium with two aisles. The 

* Dr. Maximilian Joseph Reinfelder, one of the founders of this church, 
passed away very suddenly at his residence in Yonkers, on Friday morn- 
ing, November 30, 1888. He was one of the best known and oldest physi- 
cians in the city of Yonkers. He was born in Munich, kingdom of Bavaria, 
March 4, 1812. His father, Ferdinand Reinfelder, was a surgeon in the 
military academy of that capital, where he was in active service thirty-three 
years. Dr. Reinfelder came to the United States in 1854, and practised 
medicine in Yonkers for thirty-three years. He was a man of acknowl- 
edged reputation in the profession, and was consulting physician to St. 
John's Riverside Hospital. He was liberal and kind to the poor, lend- 
ing a helping hand in time of need, and serving them professionally with 
little or no remuneration. The remark of one of them, " I will shed many 
bitter tears when Dr. Reinfelder dies," touchingly expresses the estimation 
in which he was held by them, and it was fully manifested at his funeral. 



412 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

four chancel windows are of stained glass and those in the 
auditorium of ground glass. The seating capacity is three 
hundred. The gallery at the south end of the auditorium 
was added five years after the building of the church. The 
second pastor of the church, Rev. Leo Koenig, and Herman 
Muller collected for the building of the church from their 
English-speaking friends $5,000. William Beutler and 
Henry Deitrich collected from their German friends $500 
for the same object. The lots cost $2,000. The church 
cost $10,000. The present valuation of the church prop- 
erty is $14,000. 

The successive pastors of this church have been : Rev. 
J. H. Sommer, from December, 1870, to 1872. Rev. Leo 
Koenig, from December, 1872, to 1877. Rev. Armindus Vol- 
quarts, from 1877 to November, 1878. Mr. Volquarts died 
March 11, 1882, at Egg Harbor, N. Y. The next and pres- 
ent pastor of this church preached his first sermon to this 
people on Advent Sunday, 1878, when he was called to be- 
come its pastor, but was not installed until April, 1879. 

Rev. Mr. Foehlinger at the time of his call to this pas- 
torate preached in Hastings on Sunday afternoons. He 
took part in the dedicatory exercises of the German church 
there in February, 1887. He gave up his charge in Hast- 
ings after assuming the entire charge of this church, and 
preached his first sermon to this people as has been stated. 
In April, 1878, the following clergymen, members of the 
New York Ministerium, took part in the service of installa- 
tion : Rev. R. Keyl, Rev. L. Koenig, and Rev. Mr. Cowls. 

Rev. Frederick William Foehlinger was born in Rhen- 
ish Prussia, near Coblentz, was educated at the University 
of Bonn, and came to this country in 1848. 

Rev. Mr. Foehlinger's pastorate of this church has been 
successful both spiritually and temporally. He has suc- 
ceeded in reducing a mortgage debt of over $6,000 to $2,000, 
and the membership has increased to 168, which is the 
present number of communicants. He is much beloved by 
his people. 

The church has connected with it a society called " The 
Young Folks' Friendly Society." 

The present officers of the church are : Wm. Beutler, 



ST. JOHN'S GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. 413 

John Hailnnger, Frederick Bode, Frederick Griender, and 
Charles Miller, Elders ; Wm. Beutler, John Hailnnger, and 
Frederick Bode, Trustees. 

The communion service was a gift from the ladies of 
the church. 

The inscription on the Bible is as follows : " Von den 
Frauen der Deutschen Evang. Lutherischen St. Johannis 
Gemeinde in Yonkers, A. D. 1873." 

The white marble baptismal font bears the following 
inscription : " Zum Andenken An Frau U. Merz und ihre 
enkelin B. Reinf elder." 

The organist is Miss Louise Muller. 

The sexton is Mrs. Reitzaumaner. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

This Sunday-school was organized September 1 1 , 1 869, 
in a room located on Broadway, next door to the Yonkers 
Savings' Bank, opposite Hudson Street. 

The following persons were present at its organization : 
Miss Louise Muller, Herman Muller, who subsequently be- 
came Dr. Muller ; Miss Gretchen Gaul, Peter Hagen, and 
Frederick Deator. These persons, with twenty pupils, were 
present at the first session of the school. About six months 
after the school was removed to a room in a building on the 
southwest corner of South Broadway and Main Street, now 
the office of the Westchester Telephone Company. Peter 
Hagen was chosen the first superintendent. 

The school remained in this building for three years, 
after which it was taken to St. John's Chapel on Hudson 
Street, and remained there till the day of the dedication of 
the church, in December, 1874. 

The school has held many pleasant picnics. Their first 
annual picnic was held in Dr. Herriot's grounds on South 
Broadway, which he most generously tendered to them on 
that occasion, in August, 1875. 

The annual picnic in August, 1888, was held on South 
Broadway on Christfield's farm. The school to the number 
of 140 went in stages from Getty Square. The proceeds of 
this picnic were $63, which "went into the school fund. 

The first Christmas festival which the school celebrated 



4H CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

was held in the hall over the building which occupied the 
site where the Yonkers station of the New York and North- 
ern Railway now stands. At this pleasant gathering there 
were present twenty-nine pupils with their teachers. 

The first Christmas festival held in the new church 
was on December 25, 1874, in the morning. There was 
good speaking and excellent singing by the children. 

The following is from a printed report of the school in 
the centennial year, December, 1876: "This Sunday-school 
meets in the church at two o'clock in the afternoon, under 
the superintendency of William Beutler. It is composed of 
the German children of our city. Officers, 2 ; teachers, 14; 
average attendance, 80; largest attendance, 100; volumes 
in library, 100; receipts, $250; expenditures, $225. Officers 
of the school are : William Beutler, Superintendent ; N. 
Kolpin, Secretary. The teachers are : Miss Louise Muller, 
Miss L. Klein, Miss E. Stokl, Miss R. Mockel, Miss Bertha 
Beutler, Miss M. Kuster, Miss A. Weltzien, Miss Barum- 
bach, Miss B. Fuhrman, and Messrs. Herman Muller, Kerl, 
Meinhardt, Litz, Weltzien, and J. Kolpin." 

The Christmas festival in 1888 was held on Christmas 
night in the church. The attendance was large. There 
could be no mistaking the nature of the service, or that 
Kris Kringle was around, for, on opening the church door, 
the most prominent object that met the gaze was a mam- 
moth Christmas-tree, illuminated from top to bottom with 
dozens of burning tapers. 

There was some good singing, and an excellent address 
was made by the pastor, Rev. Frederick W. Foehlinger. A 
distribution of presents followed, and the children went 
home filled with gladness and loaded with good things. 

Children's Day is regularly observed by the school. 

A monthly collection is taken up and is devoted to the 
cause of missions, and averages $100 per year. 

A donation from the Sunday-school is given annually 
to the Wartburg Orphans' Farm School, an institution of 
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mt. Vernon, N. Y. 

In 1886 the school had on its roll one hundred schol- 
ars and sixteen officers and teachers, six of the latter being 
ladies. The present membership is one hundred and ten. 



ST. JOHN'S GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. 415 

This school has decreased in membership on account of the 
establishment of another German Sunday-school in the 
city. Bruno Hailfmger has been the efficient secretary of 
this, school for five years and still holds that office. 

In 1888 fifteen pupils from the Sunday-school were re- 
ceived into the church and in 1889, nine. 

The Primary class is taught by Miss Heinrichs, and 
numbers fifteen scholars. 

The lessons taught are from the historical books of the 
Bible and the Lutheran Catechism. The singing book is 
" The Sunday-school Harmony." The Sunday-school help 
is " Der Bibelforscher," which is used by the teachers for 
the larger classes. The papers distributed are " Der Mitar- 
beiter " and " Lutherifches Kinderblatt." 

Number of volumes in library, 90. 

The school meets at nine o'clock in the morning. 

The present superintendent, William Beutler, has held 
that place for nineteen years and for his long term of ser- 
vice in connection with this Sunday-school is among the 
honorary list of Sunday-school workers in Yonkers. He is 
held in warm affection by his teachers and the scholars of 
his school. As a testimonial of his valuable services he was 
presented by the school with an elegantly bound copy of 
the Scriptures in 1882. And on Christmas of 1887 he re- 
ceived a handsome volume of the sermons of Rev. Carl 
Wm. Frederick Wallers, the founder of the Lutheran 
Church in America. 

The superintendents of this school in the order of their 
service have been Peter Hagen, Frederick Deator, and Wil- 
liam Beutler. 

The present officers of the school are : William Beutler, 
Superintendent ; Pastor Foehlinger, Treasurer ; Bruno Hail- 
finger, Secretary ; Louise Lohr, Librarian. The teachers 
are : Misses Anna Vangerow, Ida Schieper, Katie Schloss- 
han, Maria Sievers, Katie Koch, Annie Jurgens, Helen 
Heinrichs, Christrane Reutler, Louise Lohr, Minnie Gaul, 
Messrs. Frederick Keil, Frederick Bitter, Albertina Berger, 
Bruno Hailfmger, and Superintendent William Beutler 
The leader of the singing is Katie Koch, who is also the or- 
ganist for the school. 



416 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

This church, formerly known as St. Mary's Free Epis- 
copal Church, was founded by Miss Caroline Jones, daugh- 
ter of William Jones, who was senior warden of St. 
John's Episcopal Church of Yonkers from 1 841-1843. Miss 
Caroline Jones, desirous of founding a free Episcopal 
Church in Yonkers, gave the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., in 
1867, the sum of one thousand dollars as the nucleus of a 
fund to that end. Shortly after the before-mentioned date 
she made a will and appointed the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., 
and her sister, Miss Louisa Jones, as executors of said will. 
She left a plot of land on Ashburton Avenue, near the cor- 
ner of what is now Jones' Place, and authorized the Rev. 
Mr. Cobb to sell the ground if not desirable for the object 
stated. After her death, in 1868, the plot was sold, and the 
proceeds, with the one thousand dollars previously men- 
tioned, were deposited in the Yonkers Savings-Bank. 

In 1 87 1 the Rev. Mr. Cobb selected Messrs. J. Foster Jen- 
kins, M. D., S. Emmet Getty, Geo. W. Cobb, Britton Rich- 
ardson, Charles W. Seymour, and the Rev. M. R. Hooper, 
four of whom were members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 
to join with him in organizing a free church. These gentle- 
men composed the first board of trustees of the church. 

In the year 1872 the eligible site which the church 
occupies, corner of Elm Street and Nepperhan Avenue, was 
purchased. At that time the savings-bank investment had 
grown to about $6,000. The lot was purchased for $4,000. 
A mortgage was given for the whole amount. On Tues- 
day, April 24, 1872, the service of the laying of the corner- 
stone of this church took place, in which the Rev. William 
S. Langford, D. D., rector of St. John's Church, the Rev. 
Darius Richmond Brewer, a former rector of St. Paul's 
Church, the Rev. Angus M. Ives, of Tuckahoe, the Rev. M. 
R. Hooper, and the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., took part. Brief 
and appropriate addresses were made by the Rev. Dr. 



CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 417 

Langford and the Rev Mr. Brewer. In the absence of the 
Bishop the Rev. Wm. S. Langford, D. D., officiated in his 
place. Within the corner-stone was placed a copper box 
containing a copy of the Bible, a Prayer Book, a Church 
Almanac of 1872, the names of trustees and officers of the 
church, a photograph of Miss Caroline Jones, and an ex- 
tract from her will. 

The sweet-sounding bell in the belfry for the first 
time rang out its invitation to worship in the church on 
Sunday afternoon, July 14, 1872. The exercises were con- 
ducted by the Rev. William S. Langford, D. D., rector of 
St. John's Church, the Rev. David F. Banks, of St. Paul's 
Church, the Rev. M. R. Hooper, and the Rev. Lyman Cobb, 
Jr. After a sermon by the Rev. Mr. Banks the holy com- 
munion was celebrated. 

The church is constructed of wood with the outer walls 
filled in with brick, with deafened floors, slate roof, and 
stained glass windows. A wide aisle extends through the 
auditorium from the vestibule to the altar, having seats 
arranged on both sides. There are fixed settees, neat and 
comfortable. Upon the chancel window, back of the altar, 
some Scripture scenes are represented, which are Mount 
Sinai, Jerusalem, and a rustic cross bearing the inscrip- 
tion I. N. R. I., and before which a female figure is 
kneeling in the act of worship. 

The light from the morning sun breaking in upon this 
window produces a singular and beautiful effect. It is a 
memorial donated by Miss Louisa Jones. A marble tablet 
in the form of a Maltese cross is on the wall to the right of 
this window, commemorating the memory of Miss Caro- 
line Jones, who after a life of faith and good works entered 
into the rest which remaineth for the people of God on 
October 30, 1868. The tablet bears this inscription : 

|n Ijjemonj of 

MISS CAROLINE JONES, 

BY WHOSE LIBERALITY 
THIS CHURCH WAS FOUNDED. 

The building is 25 by 64 feet. The vestry room, which 
is 12 by 12 feet, contains two large windows, and is in a 

Sunday-school Work. 27 



41 8 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

wing off from the chancel. The porch is 6 by 10 feet and 
has a belfry on it. The finishing and furnishing of the 
church building was evidently ordered with a view to neat- 
ness and comfort rather than elegance and show. John A. 
East was the builder. 

Owing to adverse circumstances, in 1 88o the mortgage 
on the church was foreclosed and the property bought in 
by James C. Bell, who subsequently deeded it to the Rev. 
Lyman Cobb, Jr., who assumed the payment of a new 
mortgage by giving his personal bond. 

In 1884, during Mr. Cobb's absence in Europe, the 
church was offered for sale, and his son, having power of 
attorney for the purpose, sold it to Mrs. Virginia Clark, 
widow of John H. Clark, a member of St. John's parish, 
who assumed the mortgage of $4,800 which encumbered 
it and liquidated a floating debt of $700. This most gen- 
erous and timely assistance stimulated the members and 
friends of the church to a wonderfully vigorous and suc- 
cessful effort to pay its remaining indebtedness, which 
they succeeded in accomplishing under the leadership of 
their rector, the Rev. August Ulmann, who was untiring in 
his personal effort and unwearied in planning measures 
which finally resulted in bringing about this most desira- 
ble object. 

The church was then put in the hands of the Bishop, 
cooperating with an advisory board. 

The church property was considerably enhanced in 
value by the gift of a portable building for church and Sun- 
day-school purposes, in October, 1885, from Mrs. Virginia 
Clark, a member of St. John's Church of Yonkers. The 
building was manufactured at Corona, L. I., and is two 
stories high, 1 7 by 40 feet in its dimensions, and will accom- 
modate between two hundred and three hundred persons. 
It was erected in the rear of the church, a portion of which 
faces Nepperhan Avenue. This buildng was erected in 
memory of Mrs. Clark's parents. It is known as the 
" Parish House," and is most convenient, and has become 
a necessity in carrying forward church and Sunday-school 
work. 

Sunday, December g, 1888, marked a most important 



CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 419 

and memorable event in the history of this church. On that 
day the church was consecrated to the use and service of 
Almighty God with the impressive ritual of the Episcopal 
Church. Promptly at eleven o'clock Bishop Henry C. Pot- 
ter, of New York, the Rev. Alexander Mackay-Smith, Arch- 
deacon of New York, the Rev. Wm. S. Snively, of Brooklyn, 
and the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., met the wardens and vestry- 
men of the parish at the door of the church and proceeded 
up the aisle to the chancel while the twenty-fourth Psalm 
was being read. The floral decorations of the church were 
elaborate. In front of the font, which was richly decorated, 
stood a beautiful cross, while the altar was hidden beneath 
a mass of fragrant flowers. The instrument of donation 
was read by John W. Alexander, and the consecration ser- 
vice by Dr. Snively. The anthem " Rejoice in the Lord, 
ye righteous," was then sung. Morning prayer was read 
by the rector, assisted by Dr. Snively and Mr. Cobb. A 
powerful and eloquent sermon was preached by the Arch- 
deacon from St. Matthew 11 : 16-19. After the sermon the 
Bishop, in a few fitting words, touched upon the past history 
of the church and its future prospects. James Pearce, Mus. 
Doc, of Yonkers, presided at the organ, supported by a full 
choir. The music was well rendered and appropriate to 
the occasion. 

After the dedication of the church in 1872, the Rev. 
Lyman Cobb, Jr., officiated for several months, holding 
morning services, afternoon services being conducted by 
the clergymen of Yonkers, Hastings, and Riverdale. The 
Rev. S. S. Lewis officiated for two years and was succeeded 
by the Rev. William Hyde, who served for one year. Next 
came the Rev. R. H. Barnes, who was succeeded by the 
Rev. Samuel B. Moore. The Rev. Charles Ferris was the 
next rector, for a brief period, and was followed by the 
Rev. Robert S. Carlin, a student in the General Theologi- 
cal Seminary of New York. On June 16, 1886, the Rev. 
August Ulmann, who from June 1, 1884, na ^ officiated as 
assistant minister of St. John's Church, was elected rector. 
His pastoral career was marked with great success, as man- 
ifested in its various forms of work, and under his charge 
the parish greatly prospered. 



420 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

In June, 1890, the Rev. August Ulmann tendered his 
resignation as rector of Christ Episcopal Church, Yonkers, 
and is now Rector of Trinity School, New York city. 

The vestry and congregation passed resolutions expres- 
sive of their regret at his departure from Yonkers, which 
were placed on the records of the church. 

The Rev. E. S. Widdemer, formerly of the church of 
the Messiah, Philadelphia, preached his inaugural sermon 
at Christ Church on Sunday morning October 6, 1890. He 
created a very favorable impression. The subject of his 
sermon was "Prayer," the text being the first clause of 
Psalm 122:6 — "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem," and he 
emphasized the point that to make his ministry a success 
in Yonkers he needed the prayerful cooperation of his 
whole congregation. 

The Rev. Ephraim Solliday Widdemer, rector of Christ 
Episcopal Church, Yonkers, is one of those fortunate clergy- 
men who knew and did something else in life before he 
entered the ministry. Mr. Widdemer came from the law 
to the gospel. He is a native of Philadelphia, where he 
was a law-student in the office of the late Benjamin Harris 
Brewster, ex- Attorney General of the United States. But 
he was admitted to the practice of law in New York, and is 
still in full standing as a member of the Bar of this State. 

Mr. Widdemer, who is now in late middle life, was 
ordained by Bishop Horatio Potter in St. Luke's Church, 
New York city, in June, 1857. His opening work was in 
Northern New York, where he for several years was rector 
of St. John's Church, Stillwater, Saratoga County. Thence 
he went at the Bishop's request to inaugurate a new work 
in the city of Troy, N. Y. Here he began a parish de' novo. 
There were in the section of the city selected neither Epis- 
copal Church, Sunday-school, vestry, congregation, nor any- 
thing else except people. At the end of four years St. 
Luke's Church of Troy, N. Y., was thoroughly established, 
a handsome stone edifice built (and paid for) at an ex- 
pense of $25,000, parsonage, 150 members, and a large Sun- 
day-school. Mr. Widdemer was called from Troy to Phil- 
adelphia, where within two years he repeated the same work 
in effect, leaving the present Church of the Annunciation, 






CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 42 I 

(then called the Church of the Merciful Saviour) fully 
established. The next ten years were spent in very success- 
ful work in New York city. He was then, in 1883, recalled 
to Philadelphia, where as rector of the Church of the Mes- 
siah he spent eight years, leaving there last October, against 
the personal solicitation of his Bishop, to become rector of 
Christ Church, Yonkers. Rev. Mr. Widdemer is a rapid. 
fluent, and extempore speaker. He has the faculty of build- 
ing up and holding a congregation. 

The parish register gives the following statistics : From 
January 27, 1878, to July 2, 1885: Baptisms, 34 ; confirma- 
tions, 22; marriages, 3; deaths, 9. From July 2, 1885, to 
July 1, 1889: Baptisms, 165: confirmations, 66 ; marriages, 
6y ; deaths, 103 ; number of communicants, 158. 

On Easter Monday, 1886, Theodore J. Bayer and Henry 
Stengel were elected Wardens, and "William Webb, W. 
C. Pool, Henry Gaul, John Braithwaite, Samuel Hayward, 
Henry Back, Albert Hanson, and George Taylor, Vestry- 
men. 

The present officers are, Wardens : Henry Stengel, John 
W. Alexander. Vestrymen: E. R. Gardiner, John H. Rein, 
William Roberts, William H. Scriven, John Brazier, Henry 
Gaul, Jeremiah Simmonds. 

Improvements are contemplated in the enlargement of 
the church building. A memorial fund in memory of Raf- 
faelle Cobb, Jr., has been created, May, 1891, by subscrip- 
tions of a specified amount till the same shall have reached 
the required amount for the said enlargement. 

Parochial statistics, September 1, 1890: Number of 
souls, 318 ; baptisms, 51 ; confirmed, 25 ; marriages, 15 ; bur- 
ials, 24 ; communicants, 160; expenditures, total for all ob- 
jects, 1890, $3,372 77- 

Christ Church Chapter 302 of the Brotherhood of St. 
Andrew was organized May, 1889, with a membership of 
twenty-two. Its officers were John W. Alexander, Presi- 
dent ; William Roberts, Secretary ; John Braithwaite, Treas- 
urer, and Rev. August Ulmann, chaplain. 

Christ Church Chapter is still young, but its work al- 
ready shows abundant and blessed fruit. 

The first organist of the church was Mrs. James B. 



422 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Silkman, who served gratuitously for a number of years. 
The following persons composed the first choir of this 
church : Miss Sarah Hill, soprano ; Miss Mollie Hill, alto ; 
John Lovette, bass ; Theodore Bayer, tenor. Robert Walsh 
was the organist for ten years until his removal from 
the city, in June, 1881. The choir were assisted by several 
persons who were also volunteers. Miss Libbie Bigger- 
staff succeeded Mr. Walsh as organist. Theodore Bayer 
was the director of the singing for a number of years, and 
led the volunteer choir, which was composed of ten voices, 
mainly of members of the church. Miss Flora Stengel is 
the present organist. The choir, 1890, consisted of Mrs. 
Irene Hartt, and Misses Emma Blair, Emma G. lies, Chap- 
man, and Watson, soprano ; Mrs. Henry Bark and Miss 
Watson, alto ; Win. Pierpoint, Jr., tenor ; and Henry Bark 
and Samuel Hay ward, bass. 

The pulpit Bible was presented by the children of 
Samuel Emmet Getty. The Bishop's chair, the rector's 
chair, the lectern, the stalls, the pulpit, and the altar-cloths 
were presented as memorials by Miss Louisa Jones. The 
first communion service was also presented as a memorial 
by Miss Sarah Jones, another sister. This service was re- 
cently donated to a destitute church in the West, after a 
very handsome service had been presented by Mrs. Vir- 
ginia Clark, in 1888. The font was presented by the Rev. 
Lyman Cobb, Jr., as a memorial of his father, Lyman 
Cobb, A. M., author. 

A handsome new organ, manufactured by Mason and 
Risch, of Worcester, Mass., was placed in the church in 
1888. 

The present sexton is Charles Hanson. 

The outlook of this church is bright, encouraging, and 
hopeful. The work of its members, as well as of those who 
have officiated in the pulpit, and whose influence and pa- 
tient continuance in well-doing have contributed towards its 
present prosperity, and whose faithful and self-sacrificing 
efforts as they toiled to build up this church are still cher- 
ished and cannot be forgotten. Some have passed into 
the other world, while others are still toiling in other fields, 
yet this church is reaping the benefit of their fruitful lives 



CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 423 

May the record of what has been accomplished in the 
past be a spur and an incentive to those who remain to do 
more even in the future than has been done, that they 
may bear aloft with steady hands the banner of the Cross 
in the midst of a careless world, strengthened, encouraged, 
and upheld as they recall the words of the Lord Jesus how 
he said : " And herein is that saying true, One soweth and 
another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye be- 
stowed no labor ; other men labored, and ye are entered into 
their labors. And he that reapeth receiveth wages and 
gathereth fruit unto life eternal, that both he that sow- 
eth and he that reapeth may rejoice together." 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

To Samuel Emmet Getty was given the privilege 
and honor of founding the Sunday-school connected with 
this church. It was organized the day the church build- 
ing was ready for occupancy, July 14, 1872, and took the 
name of the church, which was then " St. Mary's." 

S. Emmet Getty, who was at that time the superin- 
tendent of St. John's Church Sunday-school, was chosen 
the superintendent. The session was held in the afternoon 
at three o'clock. School was flourishing from its start ; schol- 
ars from St. John's Sunday-school attended it in the after- 
noon, and many from the immediate neighborhood, and 
the attendance in a few weeks was about one hundred 
scholars. 

Among the early teachers are recalled Mrs. Lyman 
Cobb, Jr., Miss Gertrude Cobb, Miss M. J. Hill, Miss Rebecca 
Fisher, Miss Minnie Putnam Cobb, Mr. and Mrs. Silkman, 
and others, who were volunteers from St. John's Sunday- 
school. At a later date Mrs. A. E. C. Hyde, Miss Anna 
Teresa Bate, Miss Sarah J. Beebe, Miss Anna Wells, and 
Messrs. Wells, Raffaelle Cobb, and the Rev. Lyman Cobb, 
Jr., became teachers. 

The young ladies' Bible-class was taught by the Rev. 
Lyman Cobb, Jr. The first library was the generous gift 
of the Rev. Mr. Cobb. The first hymn book used contained 
a collection of hymns without music and a service for 
opening and closing the school. The tunes for the hymns 



424 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

were selected from all sources. They were familiar church 
tunes. The collections were devoted to home missions of 
the church, and contributions were given from time to 
time by the children to St. John's Riverside Hospital. 

" The Sunday-school of the Free Episcopal Church of 
St. Mary's held a very pleasant Christmas festival in De- 
cember, 1875. The main feature of the exercises was a 
magic lantern exhibition by the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., 
which delighted the children and gave enjoyment to all. 
An interesting address was made by the rector, the Rev. 
Charles Ferris." 

A printed report of this school during the centennial 
year— December, 1876 — gives the following statistics: Offi- 
cers, 3 ; teachers, 1 1 ; scholars on register, 140 ; average 
attendance, 80; volumes in library, 200; receipts for the 
year, $45 ; expenditures, $45. The officers of the school 
are : Rev. S. S. Lewis, Superintendent ; F. Eugene Cobb, 
Librarian ; the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., Treasurer. The 
teachers are : Mrs. Newlin, Mrs. Lyman Cobb, Jr., Mr. S. 
S. Lewis, Misses Minnie P. Cobb, Gertrude Cobb, E. M. 
Cook, Stengel, Thomas, Messrs. Theodore Silkman, John 
Wells, and the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr. Theodore Silkman 
succeeded Mr. Getty as superintendent, and during his su- 
perintendency the school was well attended and did good 
work. 

The school celebrated its Easter festival on Sunday 
afternoon, April 26, 1878, at two o'clock. The children sang 
their carols very sweetly, and addresses were made by the 
Rev. William Hyde, rector of the church, Theodore Silk- 
man, superintendent of the school, and the Rev. Alexander 
Forbes, of Scarsdale. 

On a large red arch were the words " I am the resur- 
rection and the — " and as each class presented its offering 
it also furnished a tiny white bouquet, which were success- 
ively placed in a wire framework. And when the last class 
had given its bouquet, the floral word " life " was completed 
in the centre of this arch, finishing the quotation. 

The amount of the Easter offering was $20, which was 
devoted to the church fund. 

More than ordinary preparation was made by the 



CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 425 

church to give the children a generous treat at their Christ- 
mas celebration, December, 1878. The bright young faces 
of the children wore a look of anticipation as they gathered 
in the church, and the sight of the handsome tree laden 
with good things and gleaming with the lights was not 
calculated to lessen their pleasure. The beautiful carols 
were well sung and the remarks of the rector were listened 
to with great attention, which they merited, after which the 
children received their gifts. 

The school under the superintendency of the Rev. Ly- 
man Cobb, Jr., was in a very prosperous condition. 

The following incident is related showing the great 
interest and attachment the children manifested for their 
superintendent and teachers. A few weeks previous to 
their Christmas entertainment they were informed that the 
Sunday-schools of the city would hold their Christmas fes- 
tivals on the same evening, and those who belonged to this 
school and who were also members of other Sunday-schools 
could choose which school they desired to be identified with 
on that occasion. 

The choice was made, and only three scholars out of 
the entire school (a number of whom also attended other 
schools) decided not to remain. 

This was indeed a trial test of their devotion to the 
school, inasmuch as the other schools had greater attrac- 
tions on that occasion. 

The school under the superintendency of the Rev. 
Robert S. Carlin continued to prosper for a time. After 
his resignation it declined in numbers and interest in a 
marked degree, so that the record roll when the Rev. Mr. 
Ulmann assumed charge, July, 1885, showed but fifty-six 
scholars and six teachers, The number of scholars at the 
preceding Christmas festival, 1884, was about one hundred. 

Twice a year the list of scholars is corrected, at Christ- 
mas and Trinity Sunday. In consequence of this the at- 
tendance compared with the number of scholars on the roll 
record is large. This Sunday-school carries no dead wood 
on paper. 

The Rev. Mr. Ulmann, on assuming the charge of the 
school, prepared an " honor roll." The names of the pupils 



426 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

who are perfect in punctuality, deportment, and in their 
Bible lesson and catechism during six months are placed 
on the roll according to their standing, and a number deno- 
ting the number of times they were perfect in all the re- 
quirements necessary for their names to appear on the 
honor roll is placed after their name. The honor roll at 
the Christmas festival held Wednesday, December 30, 1885, 
shows the following names : 

First Grade — James Van Varick, 20 ; Upson Van Var- 
ick, 20; Susie Tyrrell, 19; Bertina Watson, 19. 

Honorable Mention — Emma Archerd, Jennie Back, 
Amelia Betts, Alice M. Edgar, Gertrude Laforge, Libbie 
Martin, Edith Oakley, Lillie Taylor, Marie White, Millie 
White, Arthur Hyde, Frank Hyde, Willie Hyde, John Mar- 
tin, William Martin. 

Second Grade — Lillian Fisher, 18; Marion Fisher, 18; 
Susie Ingalls, 18 ; Lavinia Jenkins, 18 ; Miriam Mottram, 18 ; 
Sadie Simmonds, 18; Dora Underhill, 18; Josie Bayer, 18: 
Clara Mellor, 17; Willie Bruce, 17; Neville Williams, 17. 

Third Grade— Annie Bell, 16; Sarah Mellor, 16; Amy 
Archerd, 1 5 ; Nellie Perry, 1 5 ; Gertie Underhill, 1 5 ; Sadie 
Borland, 14 ; Emma Crowther, 14 ; Rosa Gabriel, 14 : Gussie 
Taylor, 14 ; Mamie Taylor, 14 ; Raffaelle Cobb, Jr., 14 ; Sam- 
uel Mellor, 14. 

The honor roll on Trinity Sunday, 1886, was as fol- 
lows : 

First Grade, 2a— Susie Tyrrell, Marie White, Marion 
Fisher, Nellie Hurd, William Martin, Arthur Hyde, James 
Van Varick, Charles Eisenhut, Ida Holberton, Millie White, 
Lillian Fisher, Charles Mellefont, Willie Hyde, Raffaelle 
Cobb, Jr. 

Honorable Mention — Cogen Marran, Charles Johnston, 
Upson Van Varick. 

Second Grade — Miriam Mottram, 18; Sadie Borland, 
17; Bessie Gardiner, 18; Libbie Martin, 19; Anna White, 
17; Nellie Gardiner, 19; Gertrude Underhill, 17; Emma 
Sibert, 18; Sadie Simmonds, 18; Lavinia Jenkins, 18; Liz- 
zie Borland, 18 ; Sarah Mellor, 19; Lizzie Myers, 17; Alice 
Edgar, 18; Sadie Perry, 17; Gussie Taylor, 17; Edith Oak- 
ley, 18; Emma Blair, 17; Susie Ingalls, 17; Clara Mellor, 



CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 427 

18; John Martin, 19; Edward Underhill, 18; Willie Pen- 
nell, 17; David Chambers, 18; John Dietrich, 18; Eva 
Mitchell, 18 ; Hattie Mellefont, 17 ; Clara Hurd, 17 ; Amelia 
Betts, 18; Howard Rich, 17; Josie Bayer, 18; N. Summer- 
ville, 17; Henry Borland, 19; Charles Imhold, 17. 

Third Grade — Laura Bruce, 15 ; Annie Bell, 14; Fred- 
erick Myers, 16; Emma Crowther, 16; Agnes Lankester, 
15; Annie Higgins, 15; M. Wellinghausen, 14; Martha 
Haslett, 15 ; Eddie Simmonds, 14; James Moshier, — ; Lau- 
ra Simmonds, 15 ; Gertrude Laforge, 16, Jennie Back, 16; 
Nellie Perry, 14; Minnie Eisenhut, 14; Grace Pennell, 16; 
Louise Henf, 14; Maggie Dietrich, 15 ; Richard Gabriel, 16. 

Primary Department, Honorable Mention — Frank 
Hyde, Bertha Lent, Eva Benson, Cornelia Cobb, Barbara 
Kruppenbacher, Maud Gardiner, Emma Oakley, Ellery 
Rich, Robert Pennell, Willie Bruce, Dora Underhill, Grace 
Borland, Marie Kruppenbacher, Frank Gardiner, Esther 
Pennell, Maud Moshier, Fannie Higgins, Lois Dunero. 

The church was crowded on Thursday evening, De- 
cember 30, 1886, when the Sunday-school assembled to cele- 
brate the Christmas festival. The exercises began at seven 
o'clock under the direction of the rector, the Rev. August 
Ulmann. The programme was as follows : 

Carol Lo, He Comes ! Jehovah Jesus. 

Lord's Prayer and Collects and Scripture. 

Carol Hark ! a Burst of Heavenly Music. 

Address. 
Carol - While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night. 

Scripture. 
Carol - - . - - Hark ! the Hosts of Heaven Are Singing. 

Reading of Honor Roll and Address. 
Carol - - Holy Night, Peaceful Night— By Primary Depart- 
ment. 
Carol - - - - Our Christmas Tree is Decked Once More. 

Distribution of Presents. 
Carol ------ Farewell to Thee, O Christmas Tree. 

Collects and Benediction. 

The honor roll showed the following names : 
First Grade, 16 — Annie Bell, Lillian Fisher, Marion 
Fisher, Hattie Mellefont, Sarah Mellor, Marie White, Har- 
ry Borland. 



428 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Honorable Mention — Jennie Back, Eva Black, Gracie 
Borland, Jennie Borland, Susie Williams, Fr. Bruce, Willie 
Bruce, Raffaelle Cobb, Jr., Alexander Cook, James Moshier, 
Neville Williams. 

Second Grade, 15 — Amelia Betts, Emma Blair, Susie 
Ingalls, Frederike Meyers, Sadie Simmonds, Anna White, 
Millie White, Lena Weisendanger, Willie Hyde, Cogan 
Marran, Charles Mellefont, Eddie Simmonds, James Van 
Varick. 

Third Grade, 14 — Sadie Borland, Lena Dahn, Ida Hol- 
bertson, Julia Kerling, Eva Mickle, Susie Tyrrell, Bella 
Weisendanger, Josie Bayer, Charles Imhold. 

A very interesting and impressive service was held in 
this church on Friday evening, May 18, 1888, being the 
dedication of two circles of the King's Daughters. The 
church was well filled, mostly with the members of the sis- 
terhood of the King's Daughters, who all joined heartily in 
the service and listened with the closest attention. 

The service commenced with the singing of the hymn, 
"The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ the Lord," 
and then the rector, the Rev. August Ulmann, led in prayer 
and the versicles. Psalms 45 and 144 were read, followed 
by the lesson from St. Luke 10 : 21-42. The Benedicite was 
sung and the Creed and Collects were recited. Then fol- 
lowed the hymn commencing, " Nearer, my God, to Thee,'* 
and after that Mrs. F. Bottome, the President of the King's 
Daughters, made an address. 

Mrs. Bottome 's address, which was the result of the in- 
spiration found in the 13th, 14th and 15th verses of the 45th 
Psalm, awakened deep interest. 

The selection from the oratorio of "The Messiah" be- 
ginning, " He shall feed His Flock," was impressively ren- 
dered by Mrs. Dimock. The rector made a few appropriate 
remarks and then the King's Daughters, kneeling at the 
chancel rail, received each her little silver cross, the badge 
of the order. Twenty-one were thus dedicated to the work 
of the Great King. 

The service was brought to a close by singing the 
hymn, " Sun of my soul, thou Saviour dear," and by the 
blessing pronounced by the rector. The occasion will long 



CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 429 

be remembered by all who had the privilege of being pres- 
ent, and proved an impulse and a stimulus for good to many 
hearts. 

Since that date two other circles have been formed, 
which makes four circles of King's Daughters connected 
With this school — the " Remembering Circle," of which 
Mrs. A. E. C. Hyde is the President, and whose motto is 
" Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth ;" 
the " Little Gleaners Circle," of which Miss Marion Hyde is 
President ; " The Rector's Ten," of which Mrs. August Ul- 
mann was elected President ; " The Faithful Ten," of which 
Mrs. Robert Edgar is President. These circles contributed 
$150 in 1888 towards paying off the church debt and helped 
in many ways the poor and needy. 

Every Sunday afternoon at five o'clock one of the cir- 
cles goes to St. John's Riverside Hospital and furnishes the 
music for a service which has been held there for many 
years by the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., who was also assisted by 
the Rev. August Ulmann, who officiated when Mr. Cobb was 
necessarily absent. The King's Daughters go about the 
wards and gladden the hearts of the patients by kind and 
encouraging words and gifts of flowers and fruit. 

Mrs. E. Edgar has charge of a Bible-class for young la- 
dies and Mr. W. Gaul a Bible-class for young men, both of 
which meet in the church, there being no room for them in 
the parish house. 

Under the leadership of the superintendent, the Rev. 
August Ulmann, the school steadily increased in numbers 
and under his care and guidance met with marked success in 
all the departments of work. He was especially devoted to 
his work. The little children gathered around him, for 
whom he always had a kind message and some new 
thought, not only for those in the Sunday-school, but also 
for those in the pews at the church service. 

According to the revised list, 1 890, the school numbered 
295 scholars, thirty-two teachers, and five officers. It is self- 
supporting. The weekly offerings are sufficient not only 
for the lesson leaflets and teachers' helps, but have procured 
a steady increase of the number of books in the library. 
By their special offering at Easter the teachers and scholars 



430 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

have materially helped the church in paying off its mort- 
gage and lately have contributed largely for missions. 

For some years the International Lessons were used, 
but for reasons which made it necessary a change was made 
and now the leaflets are used which' contain the uniform 
lessons prepared by the joint diocesan committee for the 
Protestant Episcopal Church. For all more important re- 
ligious exercises the Prayer Book is used, and for the 
music — except Christmas and Easter carols — the Church 
Hymnal is the only book in use. 

The contributions of the school for the year 1888 were 
$244 74, of which a part was given by friends for the Christ- 
mas festival ; in 1889, $301 49. 

Miss Minnie Putnam Cobb was the first teacher of the 
infant class of this school. She was succeeded by Miss 
Anna Terese Bate, who took charge of it for a brief season, 
and was followed by Miss Sarah Higginbotham. Its next 
teacher was Miss Lizzie Borland, who was followed by Miss 
Mary Irwin (now Mrs. John H. Crowther). These teachers 
all took a deep interest in their work and in the children of 
their charge. Their labors were abundantly rewarded by 
the affectionate regard of their scholars. In March, 1875, 
John Brewster Hyde, an interesting and very lovable little 
boy, was suddenly called from this class to enter that 
" school where Christ himself doth rule." 

At present there is no infant class proper where one or 
two teachers endeavor to control and instruct a large num- 
ber of the younger scholars. The little ones are divided 
into small classes. The result of this plan, so far as disci- 
pline and actual instruction are concerned, has been most 
gratifying. This department meets in the parish house in 
the rear of the church. 

The record book of this school shows no more efficient 
and devoted service rendered by its teachers than that of 
Miss Minnie Putnam Cobb and Miss Sarah J. Beebe, who 
are now where the splendor of the white-robed multitude is 
seen, and where are the music and the worship and the peace 
and the rest of the redeemed, in the " Palace of the King." 

The children of this Sunday-school, with others from 
St. Paul's Sunday-school, made a delightful excursion up 



CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 43 1 

the Hudson River a few miles beyond West Point, by the 
steamer "Governor Safford," on Friday, June 28, 1889. 

Mrs. A. E. C. Hyde had charge of one of the largest 
Bible-classes in the school, her second class during- her ten 
years' connection with the school, during which time she 
was never absent from her class except on account of an ill- 
ness of a few months, when her place was supplied by Miss 
Sarah J. Bebee. Her class was composed of young ladies 
who have grown up to womanhood while under her care, 
and two of whom have recently become teachers in the 
Sunday-school. Mrs. Hyde for her faithful and continuous 
service in this school is enrolled on the honorary list of 
Sunday-school workers in Yonkers. 

The Superintendents of this school have been : Samuel 
Emmet Getty, who was its first, elected July 14, 1872, Theo- 
dore, Silkman, John B. Copcutt, the Rev. S. S. Lewis, the 
Rev. Charles S. Ferris, the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., the Rev. 
Robert S. Carlin, and the Rev. August Ulmann, who took 
charge of the school the first Sunday in May, 1885. 

The present officers of the school are : Superintendent, 
the Rev. E. S. Widdemer; Assistant Superintendent, Raf- 
faelle Cobb ; Secretary, William Roberts ; Treasurer, Raf- 
faelle Cobb, Jr. * Librarians, Fred. J. Warren, Charles Mes- 
sitter, C. W. Hanson. Teacher of young ladies' Bible-class, 
Mrs. Irene W. Hartt. Teacher of young men's Bible-class, 
Henry Gecox. 

Teachers in the Adult Department : Mrs. Minnie Banker, 
Miss Sedwell W. Batten, Miss Jennie N. Jenkins, Miss Mary 
A. Turley, Mrs. Isabelle Karr, Miss Augusta Revinious, 
Miss Bertina Watson, Mr. William Catherson, Mr. Raffaelle 
Cobb, Jr., Miss Emma Crowther, Mrs. Carrie Ackert, Mr. 
John Brazier. 

Primary Department : Superintendent, Lewis H. 
Haight. Teachers — Mrs. J. H. Rein, Miss Emma Archerd, 
Miss Edna Stengel, Miss Lillie B. Taylor, Miss Emma 
lies, Miss Lizzie Jenkins, Mrs. L. H. Haight. 

Present number scholars enrolled, 246; teachers and 
officers, 29. Sunday-school offering September, 1890, 
99. Number books in library, 300. 

* Since deceased. 



432 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH AND PARISH- 
SCHOOLS.* 

St. Joseph's Church was divided from St. Mary's in 
1 87 1. The old church had become crowded, and the dis- 
tance from the north part of the village was considerable. 
Some of the people desired that a new parish might be set 
off in the neighborhood of Ashburton Avenue. The Arch- 
bishop approved of this, and in June, 1871, the Rev. Albert 
A. Lings, until then assistant at St. Mary's, was made pas- 
tor of the new parish of St. Joseph. Early in July he hired 
the Assembly Room of Public School No. 6 for the Satur- 
day evening and Sunday services of the new church. 

In July Father Lings bought the lot now occupied by 
the church, 1 1 5 feet on the north side of Ashburton Ave- 
nue and 217 feet on the east side of St. Joseph Avenue, for 
$17,000, and in September laid the corner-stone of a brick 
building 45x82 feet, two stories with basement and attic, 
placed on the north part of St. Joseph Avenue front, and 
designed ultimately for a schoolhouse, but temporarily 
fitted up for a church, with schoolrooms in the upper story. 
J. and G. Stewart did the mason-work, and included the fur- 
nishing of the church and of the school. The whole cost 
was about $20,000. The first mass was said in the new 
building on December 8, 1871, although it was not finished 
until the following spring. 

The congregation proved so large that galleries were 
put up before the church was completed, and it had eighty- 
six ^pews on the ground floor, seating 420 persons, and 
thirty-six pews in the galleries, seating 1 8o ? making a total 
of 600 seats. Father Lings was liberally supported in his 
work by the contributions not only of his own people, but 
also of his Protestant neighbors. 

* Most of the facts in this chapter are reprinted by kind permission of 
the author, Thomas C. Cornell, from the Catholic Home Almanac of 1887. 



ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. 433 

During 1886 the parish increased so that it was no 
longer possible to defer the building of the new church. 
The school, too, had become so large that it was necessary 
to give the whole building to its original purpose. The 
digging out of the cellar of the new church was begun on 
Washington's Birthday, 1886. The Sunday previous it had 
been announced that ground would be broken, and on that 
day over 200 men, with picks and shovels, gathered on the 
ground and began the work. With such enthusiasm did 
they go to work and persevere that it was nearly all done 
by their efforts. 

The corner-stone of the new Church of St. Joseph's 
was accordingly laid on the 16th day of May, 1886, on the 
feast of the patronage of St. Joseph, by Archbishop Corri- 
rigan. Fully 4,000 people climbed the steep streets Sun- 
day to witness the ceremonies. 

The sermon was delivered by the Rev. Father Dough- 
erty, of Kingston, after which the high mass was celebra- 
ted in the open air by the Rev. Father Byron, assisted by 
Fathers Coffey and Eagan as deacon and sub-deacon. The 
ceremonies were concluded with the benediction by the 
Archbishop. 

The church is in the early Gothic style, built of red 
brick with terra cotta trimmings. It is 150 feet long and 
71 feet high, and fronts on Ashburton Avenue, one of the 
most elevated positions in town, commanding an extensive 
view of the surrounding country and Hudson River. 

The walls are twenty-five feet high, surmounted by a 
Gothic roof, and the front, ornamented by a steeple, wh,en 
completed, will be 174 feet high. 

The splendid doors, the grand Catherine-wheel win- 
dow, the small side towers, and the more than life-size 
statue of St. Joseph, make the wide frontage of sixty-five 
feet very imposing. 

The interior is finished in sage green and heliotrope 
colors, with pillars and ornamental cornices of gold. The 
middle aisle may be justly called an architectural master- 
piece. The vaulted ceiling, the arch of which is sixty-five 
feet from the floor, rising on slender columns, is very impo- 
sing. On either side of the sanctuary are the altars of the 

28 



434 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, of wood, in the Gothic style. 
There are many beautiful windows, the work of F. H. Zet- 
tler, proprietor of the Royal Bavarian Art Institute, Mu- 
nich. 

The church is furnished with antique oak pews, and 
there are confessionals for Rev. A. A. Lings, Rev. J. F. 
Coffey, and Rev. H. F. Zavier. 

The architect was William Schickel, New York. The 
chief contractors were Anthony Imhoff and Denis Murphy. 

The seating capacity of the main floor is 1 1 50, and in 
addition to this number, the gallery at the back of the 
church will accommodate 250. 

Sunday, January 29, 1888, occurred the solemn and 
impressive exercises of the dedication of the new church 
building of St. Joseph's Church, Yonkers. 

The sermon was preached by Rt. Rev. T. S. Preston, 
V. G., from Eph. 4:4, 5,6," One spirit, one Lord, one faith, 
one baptism, one God and Father of all." 

All the services were conducted in Latin but the ser- 
mon, which was well pronounced in good modern English. 

The old house on St. Joseph's property at the time of 
the purchase was made the parochial residence for some 
years, but was not suitable for the purpose and was too old 
to be worth repairs, and in 1877-78 a new residence of brick 
was erected at a cost of about $6,500, on the east side of the 
lot, fronting on Ashburton and St. Joseph Avenues. 

The property of St. Joseph's Church was purchased in 
the name of the Archbishop, but in accordance with his 
wish the church was incorporated in 1876 under the gen- 
eral law, and all the property was vested in the corporation. 
The original trustees were Cardinal McCloskey, the Arch- 
bishop, the Right Rev. Monsignor Quinn, Vicar-General, 
the Rev. Albert A. Lings, pastor. 

ST. JOSEPH'S PARISH SCHOOLS 

were opened in the class-rooms over the church under lay 
teachers in September, 1872, with about 300 pupils. The 
school was discontinued at the end of June, 1879, ^ ut * n 
September, 1881, it was reopened under the charge of the 
Sisters of Charity, for whose use Father Lings had bought 



ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. 435 

the adjoining house and lot north of the school, and fitted 
it up at a cost of about $7,000. The sisters have the boys' 
school as well as the girls', but in separate class-rooms, with 
separate yards and entrances. 

Sister Stephen, of the Academy of St. Aloysius, who 
had for several years had charge of St. Joseph's Sunday- 
school, was put in charge of the new house at St. Joseph's, 
where she now has eight assistant sisters besides the lay 
assistance in the school. 

In the autumn of 1882 the school numbered 203 boys 
and 281 girls. Total, 484. The registered number for the 
year 1887 was 680. The number in attendance in Septem- 
ber, 1889, was 900. 

Father Lings estimated the number of people belong- 
ing to St. Joseph's, including children, January 1, 1887, 
about 4,000. 

The record of the marriages and baptisms in this 
church during the following years reads thus : Baptisms — 
1882, 120; 1883, 148; 1884, 176; 1885, 162. Marriages— 
1882,46; 1883,36; 1884,36; 1885,45. 

The census in 1889 of the members of the congrega- 
tion, taken by the priests attached to the church them- 
selves, showed the large number of 5,857 souls. 

The attendance at the various masses is 4,000. 

St. Joseph's has several societies and sodalities. The 
Child of Mary, the Sacred Heart Society, the Sodality of the 
Holy Angels, the Holy Infancy Sodality for boys, and an- 
other for girls, the St. Aloysius Society of boys, the Tem- 
perance Society, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul ; 
but the last named is not confined to St. Joseph's parish. 
St. Joseph's Church has also a Young Men's Catholic Asso- 
ciation and the Holy Name Society of St. Joseph's. 

ST. JOSEPH'S CLERGY. 

The work of the parish has made necessary the servi- 
ces of an assistant priest for several years, and the Rev. 
Anthony Molloy has occupied the position since November, 
1876, and was acting pastor, with the Rev. Michael Mont- 
gomery as assistant, during the absence of Father Lings in 
1 88 1 in Europe, Egypt, and Palestine. Before Father Mol- 



436 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

loy, the Rev. Father Shadier, now pastor of St. Joseph's 
Church, Charleston, S. C, was assistant of Father Lings for 
about three years. 

Father Lings was born at Baden in 1844. He made 
his theological studies in the seminary at Troy, and was 
ordained by Bishop Bacon, of Portland, on the 16th of June, 
1867, and sent as assistant to St. Michael's Church, New 
York, where he remained but three months, when he was 
sent as assistant at St. Mary's, Yonkers, in September, 1 867, 
and in June, 1871, was put in charge of the new parish of 
St. Joseph's, of which he is now in the nineteenth year of 
his pastorate, January, 1890. 

The erection of the new church edifice was largely due 
to his tireless energy and perseverance. 

Father Lings is assisted in his labors as the head of 
St. Joseph's Church by Rev. Fathers Henry Xavier and 
John F. Coffey. 

The choir of St. Joseph's Church is composed as fol- 
lows : Prof. J. J. Kaiser, organist and director. Chorus of 
twenty voices. 

The sexton is John A. Weis. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The following is from a printed report of the school in 
the centennial year, 1 876 : 

"The flourishing Roman-catholic Sunday-school con- 
nected with St. Joseph's Church, the corner of Oakhill and 
Ashburton Avenues, is under the supervision of Father A. 
A. Lings, and has a large attendance. 

The following are the statistics for the past year: 
Officers, 1 ; teachers, 35 ; pupils on register, girls 350, boys 
230 ; average attendance, girls 300, boys 200 ; number in 
primary department, 20. Total number of pupils, 600. 

" Receipts, $130; expenditures, $75. 

" The Sunday-school in 1887 had two sessions a day. 

" Instructions explanatory of the Church Catechism 
were given. 

" The Catholic hymn-book was used, and the Sunday- 
school paper distributed was ' The Young Catholic' 

" The number of pupils at that date was 750. 






ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. 437 

"The number reported in the beginning of 1890 was 
900. 

" The school at that date was in charge of Sister M. 
Stephens and eleven assistant sisters, besides five lay 
assistants. 

" We have been informed at this writing — November, 
1890 — that the regular session of the Sunday-school is not 
held, but a short morning and afternoon service for the 
children is held, which is at present conducted by Father 
Lings and his assistants." 



438 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

CHAPTER XX. 

DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

" On the east side of the city of Yonkers, three-quarters 
of a mile from the City Hall, is an eminence called Nodine 
Hill, or Viewville. From the brow of this hill three val- 
leys outspread their rival glories, and each has a charm of 
its own. The commanding hill has doubtless suggested 
the name Viewville. Towards the north lies the tranquil 
vale of the winding Nepperhan — * rapid running water.' 
Eastward are the blue hills of Long Island, against which 
glide the glistening sails of ships, oceanward or homeward 
bound. Nearer, the historic hills where a patriot army has 
left its footprints uplift their sombre forests and smiling 
fields. Tibbets Brook goes seaward between these heights 
and Nodine Hill. To the west the superb valley of the 
Hudson outspreads its purple glories. Sloops and yachts 
and proud steamers sail into sight from behind the hills, 
and miles of the massive Palisades stand out against the 
western horizon. In the south is seen in the distance 
Bartholdi's statue of Liberty, and at night the southern sky 
reflects the gleams of a thousand city lamps, while the 
many colored lights of sloops and steamers, and bright rays 
from the windows of happy Yonkers homes, sparkle like 
stars." 

On the western slope of this beautiful hill stands 
the Dayspring Presbyterian Church, its surroundings call- 
ing to remembrance the words of the Psalmist, " Beautiful 
for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mt. Zion," etc. 
The church on this beautiful hill is the outgrowth of cot- 
tage prayer-meetings. 

Between 1855 and i860 prayer-meetings were held at 
the house of Mrs. Sarah A. Berrian.* Cottage prayer- 

* The following tribute to the memory of Mrs. Berrian was written by 
her pastor, Rev. Charles E. Allison : "Mrs. Sarah A. Berrian died Satur- 
day morning, February 11, 1888. Her husband, John Devoe Berrian, died 
many years ago while the family lived at Mosholu. Forty-three years ago 



DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 439 

meetings were also held at the houses of John Craft, Clark 
Nodine, Solomon Corsa, Dewitt Taylor, Messrs. Eddy, 
Alexander, Banks, Kelly, Ferguson, Mottram, and others. 
The pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rev. 
Dr. Sawyer, led some of the meetings at the home of Mrs. 
L. M. Cutbill. For many years these cottage meetings 
were held, until at last the rooms in private houses could 
not accommodate those who desired to attend. The older 
citizens speak with gratitude of the labors of Rev. Robert 
Kirkwood, a Presbyterian clergyman, who, in the spring 
of 1857, began holding open-air services in the then sparsely 
settled region in which the church now prosecutes its work ; 
and Rev. Pelatiah Ward, who shortly afterward was ap- 
pointed to the pastorate of the First Methodist Church, 
joined Mr. Kirkwood * in his labors. 

Rev. Mr. Ward • served the First Methodist Church as 
its pastor in 1859 an d i860. During his brief pastorate the 
church received a large ingathering of precious souls. 
During the war for the Union he was appointed captain 

the widowed mother removed with her family to Nodine Hill, Yonkers. 
Only one resident has lived on the hill longer than this aged mother. So 
many outside of her own family circle have rejoiced in her motherly kind- 
ness and gentleness, that with grateful affection all have called her Grand- 
ma Berrian. She was indeed a mother in Israel. For many years her 
name was on the roll of the First Methodist Church, and for many years 
the neighborhood prayer-meetings were held at her house. In July, 1882, 
she became a member of the Dayspring Presbyterian Church, enrolling 
her name among those of her children and grandchildren. Her life was 
a benediction, her death an entering into rest." 

* Rev. Robert Kirkwood — the writer's father — was born in Scotland 
and educated in the University of Glasgow ; was led by the Spirit to labor 
in America, first in New York and later in the mission-fields in the valley 
of the Mississippi, where two churches and a number of Sunday-schools 
were organized under his labors. The spiritual needs of the world being 
uppermost in his mind, his influence was always felt in the community in 
which he lived. After a long and useful life as pastor, missionary, and 
author, this servant of God was removed to the upper sanctuary in 1866. 
His funeral services were held in the Westminster Presbyterian Church 
on Wednesday afternoon, August 28, 1866. Rev. Samuel T. Carter, the 
pastor, preached the sermon from these words : "Thou shalt come to thy 
grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season." Job 
5:26. Rev. David Cole, D. D., pastor of the Reformed Church, Yon- 
kers, and Rev. Darius Richmond Brewer, rector of St. Paul's Church, Yon- 
kers, also took part in the services. 



44-0 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

of a company which he was largely instrumental in organ- 
izing, and afterwards chaplain of the regiment to which 
this company was attached. At the second battle of Bull 
Run two of the color-bearers of the regiment were shot 
and instantly killed. As the second one fell Mr. Ward 
sprang forward and seizing the flag waved it and urged 
the regiment forward. In so doing he received five 
wounds which in a few hours resulted in his death. Rev % 
Mr. Ward was a man of commanding presence and genial, 
earnest manner. His memory has left the most kindly 
impression on the hearts of those who knew him and with 
whom he was associated. 

In 1864, Judge T. Astley Atkins, John N. Stearns, and 
Britton Richardson, members of the Episcopal Church, 
invited John McCoy, who then lived in New York, to be- 
come city mivSsionary in Yonkers. Mr. McCoy accepted 
their invitation and was at work in that capacity when a 
Yonkers home missionary society was organized in the 
lecture-room of the First Presbyterian Church, October 4, 
1865. 

In this society were represented seven churches — two 
Presbyterian (First and Westminster), two Episcopalian 
(St. John's and St. Paul's), one Reformed (Reformed of 
Yonkers), one Baptist (Mt. Olivet), and one Methodist 
(First). 

He continued his work under the auspices of that 
society until September, 1871. 

During those patient years of unheralded service his 
kind face brightened many homes, and under many roofs 
his voice was heard in prayer. The sick man knew him, 
and the poor to whom he preached the gospel. His was a 
wayside ministry. He conversed with thousands of men, 
women, and children, and distributed many Bibles and 
tracts. Not a few to-day remember how he counselled 
them to keep the Sabbath and reverence the sanctuary. 

The Yonkers Home Missionary Society prosecuted its 
good work from 1865 to September 18, 1871. 

In 1866 the Westminster Presbyterian Church, then 
under the pastorate of Rev. Samuel T. Carter, engaged 
Mrs. Elizabeth Russell (now Mrs. MacKenzien) as Bible- 



DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 441 

reader. Mrs. Russell organized a weekly prayer-meeting 
which was sustained by the Session and members of the 
Westminster Church. In 1867, Rev. Lewis W. Mudge 
(now Rev. Dr. Mudge) pastor of the Westminster Church, 
took charge of the meetings and for several years was 
never absent except when called away by pressing duties. 
The meeting was held on Friday evening and was the only 
service on the hill at that time. It was almost always held 
at the home of Mr. Corsa. Dr. J. H. Pooley, A. O. Kirk- 
wood, Duncan C. Ralston, James Biggerstaff, and James E. 
Goddard (the latter had formerly been an elder in the 
Westminster Church, but was then a member of the First 
Presbyterian Church), took great interest in this meeting 
and rendered earnest and faithful service. These were 
years of constant blessing on the overflowing meetings, and 
so abundant were the fruits that, at one time, upwards of 
forty therefrom were in the communion of the Westmin- 
ster Church. 

At this time there were fifty-two houses on the hill, 
"one for each Sunday in the year." In 1868-69, A. V. Witt- 
meyer, a student in Union Theological Seminary, was also 
at work in Yonkers under the direction of the Home Mis- 
sionary Society. The Yonkers Home Missionary Society 
expended from $600 to $1,000 a year. In September, 1871, 
this society was discontinued. 

In 1870, owing to the exception taken to the Yonkers 
Home Mission by some of the churches that had no weekly 
meeting and no result to show, the Session of the West- 
minster Church having so much on their hands (sustaining 
at that time five meetings in different parts of the town), 
offered to transfer this meeting to the care of the mission, 
there being an understanding with some of the members 
of the First Presbyterian Church actively engaged in mis- 
sion work that they would be responsible for its contin- 
uance and support. 

When the Yonkers Home Missionary Society ceased 
to exist, the work on Nodine Hill came into the hands of 
the First Presbyterian Church. On Thursday evening, 
November 2, 1871; the First Presbyterian Missionary Asso- 
ciation was organized. The pastor of the church, Rev. T. 



442 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Ralston Smith, D. D., Prof. Henry M. Baird, D. D., Lucius 
E. Clark, James E. Goddard, William Allen Butler, Rich- 
ard Wynkoop, William C. Foote, Charles Lockwood, and 
Augustus Cruikshank participated in that meeting. 

William Allen Butler submitted a plan of organization, 
which was adopted. The executive committee consisted 
of twelve members, six of whom were the elders of the 
church, the pastor to be a member of such committee and 
president of the Association. Among the members of the 
First Presbyterian Association were Rev. Dr. Smith, Rev. 
Dr. Baird, Rev. Dr. W. W. Rand, Rev. W. C. Foote, 
Charles Lockwood, William Allen Butler, H. M. Schieffelin, 
Ethan Flagg, W. W. Law, William R. Mott, P. Kelly, G. L. 
Morse, L. E. Clark, J. W. Skinner, Messrs. Rockwell, 
Holmes, Gibson, Wynkoop, Bogart, Cochran, Newell, 
Adams, Cuthell, Heermance, Nichols, Thompson, Farnum, 
Dr. Levi W. Flagg, Johnson, Olmsted, Cruikshank, Par- 
sons, Travis, Harper, and others. 

At the first meeting of the executive committee, held 
in the Session room of the First Presbyterian Church, No- 
vember 3, 1 87 1, there were present Rev. Dr. Smith, William 
C. Foote, Samuel D. Rockwell, Richard Wynkoop, Charles 
Lockwood, William Allen Butler, William F. Cochran, 
Patrick Kelly, Ethan Flagg, and William R. Mott. Wil- 
liam Allen Butler was chosen chairman, R. Wynkoop, sec- 
retary, and William R. Mott, treasurer. Messrs. Lockwood 
and Kelly were appointed a committee to select the field of 
labor, Messrs. Lockwood, Foote, and Skinner, a committee 
to secure a missionary, and Messrs. Gibson and Mott, a 
committee on finance. The pastor, Rev. Dr. Smith, and 
the chairman of the executive committee were made ex- 
officio members of the last committee. The following was 
adopted : 

Resolved, That this executive committee consider it 
desirable to occupy Nodine Hill as a field of labor, and 
that the subject of that field be made the special order of 
the next meeting. 

At a meeting of the executive committee, Novem- 
ber 16, 1 87 1, Charles Lockwood made an oral report as to 
the number of families on Nodine Hill. A general and 



DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 443 

extended discussion followed, after which it was unani- 
mously 

Resolved, That in the opinion of this executive com- 
mittee it is expedient to erect a building suitable for public 
worship upon Xodine Hill at an expense of not more than 
two thousand dollars. 

On November 23, 1871. the executive committee re- 
ported plans, specifications, and estimates. They also re- 
ported that a suitable site could be obtained from Ethan 
Flagg on a lease for five years with a prospect of a grant 
of land at the expiration of that time, with the privilege of 
the removal of the building. December 7, 1871, the mis- 
sionary association held a meeting and it was unanimously 
decided, by a standing vote, to approve an appeal made by 
the executive committee to the congregation of the church 
for the sum of three thousand dollars towards the employ- 
ment of a missionary and for the erection of a chapel. 

Thursday evening, January 2. 1872, George W. Francis, 
who had volunteered to canvass for contributions, reported 
that $1,332 had been subscribed for the work, and it was 
unanimously 

Resolved, That the committee on location hereafter con- 
stitute a building committee, and be authorized to proceed 
at once to the erection of a building on Nodine Hill of 
such dimensions as the funds will warrant. 

On January 11, 1872, a plot of land fifty feet by one 
hundred, corner of Oliver Avenue and Walnut Street, was 
selected as the site for the building. The name selected 
was the Day spring Chapel, which was suggested by Wil- 
liam Allen Butler, "and is especially appropriate for a tab- 
ernacle which is pitched towards the sunrising. and for a 
house within the walls of which is preached the gospel of 
Christ, the soul's Dayspring." This building, with the 
lots, cost 85.250, of which $1,250 was paid by the Dayspring 
congregation in April, 1879. 

The building committee were Messrs. Ethan Flagg, 
Charles Lock wood, William Allen Butler, and Patrick 
Kelly. 

Rev. Dr. Smith took a very deep interest in the work 
in its inception and progress. William Halsey & Brothers 



444 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

were the builders. The building is a wooden structure of 
Gothic architecture. Over the main entrance a tablet with 
the following inscription in gilt letters was placed in 1 879 : 
" Dayspring Presbyterian Church, organized April 21, 1879. 
Ye shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary. 
I am the Lord. Lev. 19:30." After the enlargement of 
the chapel two additional entrances were made in the right 
and left wings of the building. Over the pulpit are the 
words, " The Dayspring from on high hath visited us." 
The Commandments and the Lord's Prayer are in the re- 
cess behind the pulpit. 

The seating capacity of the original building was about 
two hundred. Between one and two hundred persons con- 
tributed for the building and furniture of the chapel. 
Messrs. William Allen Butler, Charles Lock wood, Lucius 
E. Clark, H. M. Schieffelin, Ethan Flagg, Union Adams, 
W. F. Cochran, D. R. Newell, R. W. Bogart, and William 
A. Gibson were among those who gave the largest 
amounts. 

The dedicatory services were held Sunday, April 29, 
1872, at 3 P. M., and were opened with an invocation by 
Rev. Henry M. Baird, D. D. Hymn, " I love thy kingdom, 
Lord." Reading of the Scriptures and prayer by Rev. 
Henry M. Baird, D. D. Historical statement by Charles 
Lockwood. Hymn, "All hail the power of Jesus' name." 
Sermon by Rev. T. Ralston Smith, D. D., pastor of the 
First Presbyterian Church. The following hymn, written 
by William Allen Butler, was then sung : 

Light of the world, the shadows fly, 
The morning breaks with thy bright beam ; 

Oh let the Dayspring from on high 
With quickening ray our souls redeem ! 

On this our humble hillside shrine 

Thy seal of benediction set, 
Saviour of sinners, Friend divine, 

Who watched and wept on Olivet. 

Our open doors on this glad day 

Enter, O risen, reigning Lord; 
Abide with us, thy love display, 

Thyself reveal, thy name record. 



DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 445 

Here crown our work, our worship own, 
Here guide the souls that seek thy face, 

And here to contrite hearts make known 
The riches of redeeming grace. 

So may the dawn and Dayspring here 

Brighten and bless our upward way, 
Till in thy likeness we appear 

To share thy perfect endless day. 

Address by William Allen Butler, the chairman of the ex- 
ecutive committee of the First Presbyterian Church Mis- 
sionary Association. The text from which Dr. Smith 
preached the dedicatory sermon was, "The Dayspring 
from on high hath visited us." Luke 1 : 78. 

At the time the chapel was dedicated there were be- 
tween sixty and eighty dwelling-houses east of Walnut 
Street. In the fall of 1 868 the Missionary Association of 
the First Presbyterian Church engaged the services of 
Mr. A. V. Wittmeyer,* a theological student, to visit the 
families on Nodine Hill and to preach on Sunday after- 
noons. He officiated for about a year very acceptably, but 
finding that his work was interfering with his studies, he 
was compelled to relinquish it. While he was acting as 
missionary, plans were drawn for building the chapel, 
which would have been constructed but for his sudden re- 
moval from the city. After his departure the meetings on 
the hill at various houses were discontinued. But they 
were resumed at the urgent request of the residents there, 
and were held regularly at the residence of Mrs. Berrian. 
Evening services were also held in the chapel. 

In the fall of 1868 the secretary engaged the services 
of Mr. A. J. Titsworth, a student in the Union Theological 
Seminary, to visit the families and to preach on Sunday 
afternoons. 

Rev. Charles Elmer Allison, also a student of Union 
Seminary, succeeded Mr. Titsworth. Mr. Allison preached 
his first sermon to this people on Sunday afternoon, April 
27, 1873, from the text, " Oh that there was such a heart in 
them that they would fear me and keep all my command- 

* Rev. A. V. Wittmeyer is now the rector of the French Church Du 
Saint-Esprit, of the city of New York, in West Twenty-second Street near 
Fifth Avenue. 



446 



CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 



ments always, that it might be well with them and with 
their children for ever." Deut. 5 : 29. 

The rapid growth of the church under Rev. Mr. Alli- 
son, and of the Sunday-school under the superintendency 
of Charles Lockwood, made it necessary, in 1875, to en- 
large the building, and from April 1 1 to May 23 the chapel 
was closed for enlargement and repairs. At that time two 
wings were added, a belfry built, and a bell hung, at an 
expense of $2,400. On the bell, which is very sweet in tone, 
is inscribed the text, " Let him that heareth say, Come." 




DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHAPEL, 



William Allen Butler, who was on the eve of the cele- 
bration of his silver wedding, sent to the chapel as a thank- 
offering a check for $1,000. This donation, increased by 
contributions from Messrs. Lockwood, Law, Clark, Kelly, 
and others, enabled the executive committee of the First 
Church Association to enlarge and improve the house of 
worship and provide separate rooms for the Bible and 
infant classes. Previous to 1878 there was but one public 
service in the chapel on the Lord's day. By the enlarge- 
ment of the building, accommodation was made to seat 325 
persons, which is the present capacity. 

The first communion service was held June 20, 1875. 
Twelve united at that time with the church, each one re- 



DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 447 

ceiving a beautiful copy of the New Testament and Psalms, 
with the name of member and date of uniting with the 
church lettered thereon. These books, the gift of William 
Allen Butler, were designed to commemorate the first 
communion. Just after the revival under the labors of 
Rev. E. P. Hammond, the evangelist, in 1877, the member- 
ship was increased by the addition of twenty-two. 

In January, 1878, the afternoon service at the chapel 
was discontinued, and morning and evening services were 
regularly established, beginning with the first Sunday of 
January. 

In the spring of 1879 steps were taken towards the 
organization of a Presbyterian Church on Nodine Hill. It 
was thought wise not to organize until the mortgage on 
the land was paid. Through the self-sacrificing activity of 
Miss Ida Belknap and Miss M. E. Bradford, who with other 
friends of the chapel had months before held a fair for the 
benefit of the chapel, and who had also given an entertain- 
ment in Washburn Hall in which they were aided by the 
young people of the chapel, a considerable sum of money 
was raised. With this money, and subscriptions from 
people on the hill, the mortgage was paid April 13, 

1879. 

From April, 1872, to April, 1879, the First Presbyterian 
Church Association expended for the work on Nodine Hill 
about $20,000. 

" Previous to the organization of the Day spring Church 
more than 100, through the services and instructions in its 
house of worship and among the homes on the east side of 
the city, were added to the First Presbyterian Church, 
which had so generously fostered its early life. These 
were years of plenty." 

" So rapid the growth of this religious work, and so 
continually ' the foot of the reaper trod on the heel of the 
sower/ that the friends of the chapel believed the time had 
come for independent church life. Such belief and the 
desire of the east-side residents were expressed to the exec- 
utive committee of the First Church Association, and on 
April 13, 1879, the committee assembled to take action in 
the matter. William Allen Butler was in the chair, and J. 



448 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

W. Skinner acted as secretary. The following resolution 
was adopted unanimously : 

" ' Whereas, The congregation worshipping in Day- 
spring Chapel has paid off the mortgage on the lots on 
which the chapel stands, and now proposes to apply to the 
Presbytery of Westchester for organization as a church ; 

" ' Resolved, That the committee hereby approves of 
such application, and in case the same is granted by the 
Presbytery, will recommend to the Missionary Association 
of the First Presbyterian Church of Yonkers to vest in the 
church to be so organized all its property on Nodine Hill 
for the purposes of such church, and so long as it shall be 
used for a Presbyterian church.' 

4 " The meeting of the Presbytery was held in Stamford, 
Conn., on April 15. The request of the Day spring Chapel 
congregation was presented. Rev. Dr. Smith, Rev. John 
Dixon, W. C. Foote, and C. E. Allison were present from 
Yonkers. Presbytery referred the application of the chapel 
congregation to the Committee on Church Extension with 
power. 

"On Monday, April 21, the Church Extension Com- 
mittee met at the house of Charles Lockwood. After due 
inquiry and deliberation the Committee decided to proceed 
with the organization, and at eight o'clock Monday even- 
ing, April 21, met the congregation in the chapel. The 
members of the Committee of Presbytery who took part in 
the services were Rev. Dr. Baird of Rye, Rev. Dr. Phraner 
of Sing Sing, Rev. Mr. A. R. Macoubrey of Brewsters, Ed- 
ward Wells of Peekskill. 

" After singing by the choir, Rev. Charles W. Baird, 
D. D., read the seventeenth chapter of John. He then an- 
nounced the action of Presbytery, and followed the report 
with prayer. Mr. Allison read the list of names of those 
who had been dismissed from other churches in order to 
organize a new church. As the names were read the mem- 
bers arose. Eighty-five were from the First Presbyterian 
Church, five from the Westminster, two from St. John's, 
one from the Presbyterian church in Melville, Long Island, 
and one from the Reformed church, West Farms —ninety- 
four in all. 



DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 449 

" Rev. Dr. Phraner, of Sing Sing, then proceeded with 
the ordination of church officers. The following persons 
were nominated as elders : William Bates, Thomas Moore, 
and H. H. Ferguson ; and for deacons, Alfred Hill, Samuel 
Granger, and William Smith. The voting was by uplifted 
hands, and they were all chosen. 

" After the ordination of elders and deacons brief ad- 
dresses were made by Rev. Wm. C. Foote and Charles 
Lock-wood. 

" Rev. Dr. Charles Baird spoke of his regret at the ab- 
sence of Rev. Dr. Smith, who had always cherished this 
chapel work and rejoiced in its prosperity. He said, ' You 
are the thirty-eighth church in our Presbytery — the last 
one on the roll, but not the least in our affections.' The 
benediction was pronounced by Rev. Dr. Henry M. Baird, 
of Yonkers. 

" So was consummated an organization for which many 
good men prayed and labored. So was placed on the east- 
ern borders of our city, towards the sun-rising, a golden 
candlestick to hold up for years to come the light of the 
world, to bless the present generation, and to illuminate 
the hearts and lives of children and children's children." 

The next step of this newly organized church was to 
call a pastor. Accordingly on April 24, 1879, at a meeting 
of the congregation held in the Dayspring Church, at 
which Rev. John Dixon, pastor of the Westminster Pres- 
byterian Church of Yonkers, presided, a unanimous call 
was extended to Rev. Charles E. Allison, who had labored 
so faithfully and so successfully for six years as a stated 
supply to this people, to become their pastor. The call 
was accepted, and on Wednesday evening, April 30, 1879, 
Mr. Allison was ordained and installed as their pastor in 
the First Presbyterian Church of Yonkers. 

Rev. Dr. Carson W. Adams, of West Farms, the Mod- 
erator of the Westchester Presbytery, presided. The ser- 
vices were opened by singing the hymn, " I love thy king- 
dom, Lord." Rev. Ezra F. Mundy read the fourth chapter 
of Nehemiah. Rev. Charles W. Baird, D. D., followed 
with prayer. The hymn, "Rock of Ages, cleft for me/' 
was then sung. Prayer was offered by Rev. John Dixon. 

Church and Sunday-school Work. 2Q 



450 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Rev. Wilson Phraner, D. D., of Sing Sing, preached the 
sermon from the words, " So built we the wall ; and all the 
wall was joined together unto the half thereof, for the peo- 
ple had a mind to work." Neh. 4 : 6. 

At the close of the sermon Mr. Allison came forward 
and knelt before the pulpit, when the members of the 
Presbytery and other Presbyterian clergymen in the con- 
gregation placed their hands upon his head while Rev. Dr. 
Adams offered the prayer of ordination. 

Rev. Rollin A. Sawyer, D. D., pastor of the Presbyte- 
rian Church of Irvington, delivered the charge to the pas- 
tor, and Rev. J. Ritchie Smith, of Peekskill, delivered the 
charge to the people. After the singing of the doxology, 
Rev. C. E. Allison pronounced the benediction. 

Rev. Charles Elmer Allison, second son of Isaac W. 
and Teresa A. Allison, was born at Slate Hill, Orange 
County, N. Y. His mother's surname before her marriage 
was Elmer. Rev. Mr. Allison was prepared for college at 
Chester Academy, Chester, Orange County, N. Y., and was 
graduated at Hamilton College, Clinton, N. Y., in 1870, and 
at Union Theological Seminary, New York city, in 1874. 
At Hamilton College he was one of the six Clark Prize 
Orators of his class. He was licensed to preach the gospel 
by the Hudson Presbytery in session at Middletown, N. Y. 
He was ordained by the Presbytery of Westchester in ses- 
sion at Yonkers, N. Y., on the 30th of April, 1879. On 
the same day he was installed pastor of the Dayspring 
Presbyterian Church in Yonkers. Six years before, while 
he was a student in Union Theological Seminary, he had 
been placed in charge of the Dayspring Chapel, which was 
organized as a church, April 25, 1879. 

Rev. Mr. Allison has carried on a successful ministry to 
this church for eighteen years. He is known as an untiring 
and devoted worker, and his labors have been abundantly 
blessed, not only in his own church, but in neighboring fields 
to which he is frequently called, being especially acceptable 
in conducting evangelistic services. He is pleasing and 
entertaining in his addresses to the children. Rev. Mi. 
Allison is a zealous and active laborer in the temperance 
cause and has given to it gifts of his time and talents. He 



DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 45 I 

has taken the high ground that the Bible and the ballot 
are the two great weapons for the overthrow of intemper- 
ance, and his public utterances on this subject indicate that 
he is fixed in purpose and strong in faith in the progress 
and final triumph of temperance through moral and legal 
measures. Mr. Allison was Moderator of the Presbytery 
of Westchester in 1886. He is the author of the " History 
of Hamilton College" recently published. The new Day- 
spring Presbyterian Church edifice was erected under Rev. 
Mr. Allison's pastorate. 

The first Board of Trustees was elected May 13, 1879. 
It was composed of Charles R. Culver, Samuel Berrian, 
Thomas F. Hope, Chas. H. Pease, Joshua Smith, Benjamin 
Sutherland, John A. Smith, Leonard Mapes, and John Poole. 
The church was incorporated on the same day. 

At a meeting of the First Church Association, held 
November 20, 1879, the following preamble and resolution 
were adopted : 

Whereas, The congregation worshipping in the Day- 
spring Church, having organized a church which has been 
admitted in the Presbytery of Westchester, under the name 
of the Dayspring Presbyterian Church in Yonkers, and 
having purchased and paid for the lots on which the chapel 
is situated, all of which has been with the approval of the 
committee and in anticipation of the action now proposed ; 
it is therefore 

Resolved, That the executive committee recommend to 
the Association that they approve of and confirm what has 
there been done, and donate to the said Dayspring Presby- 
terian Church all the property of the Association in the 
chapel and its appurtenances and the furniture and articles 
therein, the same to be included in the conveyance to be 
made by the trustees of the First Presbyterian Church 
pursuant to the right of the trustees to make such convey- 
ance under declaration of trust executed by Patrick Kelly 
and Robert Harper, dated March 14, 1878, in liber 946 of 
deeds, page 306, in the register's office in Westchester 
County. And the committee recommend that such convey- 
ance be upon condition that the property conveyed shall be 
used only for the purpose of a church of the Presbyterian 



452 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

denomination, and that no mortgage shall ever be placed 
on said property. 

At this meeting it was also resolved to pay the expenses 
necessary to complete the church organization, also to meet 
so far as necessary any deficiency in the resources of the 
Dayspring Church for its proper support for the year. 

The following statistics show the number added to the 
Dayspring Church since its organization : Ninety-four were 
organized as a church in 1 879 ; 8 were added to the church 
in 1879, 7 i n 1880, 33 in 1881, 17 in 1882, 8 in 1883, 5 in 
1884, 33 in 1885, 19 in 1886, 38 in 1887, 11 in 1888, 31 in 
1889, 33 in 1890. The present membership, April, 1891, is 
268. 

In December, 1880, the church enjoyed a time of re- 
freshing from the presence of the Lord. " The silent power 
of the Holy Spirit uplifted scores of weary and heavy laden 
hearts and His sacred influence daily won many to the 
Saviour." 

In June, 1880, a festival and floral fair was held in large 
tents in Flagg's Grove, opposite the Dayspring Church, for 
the benefit of the church. The committee in charge pub- 
lished a paper known as the " Hillside Echo." The profits 
of the fair were $800. 

In June, 1882, the church again enjoyed gratifying 
evidence of the presence of God's Spirit. Special meet- 
ings were appointed and on Sunday evening, June 18, the 
interest had so deepened and widened that between forty 
and fifty asked for remembrance in the prayers of the 
church. " The history both of the seven years of chapel 
life and the seven years of church life testifies that the 
good hand of the Lord has been upon its people." 

January 27, 1887, the Board of Trustees of the church 
established a building fund for the erection of a new church 
edifice. In November, 1887, a large fair was held in War- 
burton Hall, lasting for three days, for the benefit of the 
new church building fund, when another edition of the 
" Hillside Echo " was published. 

The members of the present session of the Dayspring 
Church are : Rev. Charles E. Allison, William Smith, John 
H. Cutbill, and Thomas F. Hope. The trustees are, Thomas 



DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 453 

F. Hope, John H. Cutbill, James M. Rhys, Edwin Graham, 
John Rose, Roderick Ross, Charles R. Culver, Robert 
Field, and John Ross. The clerk of the Session is Wil- 
liam Smith and the Secretary of the Board of Trustees is 
John H. Cutbill. 

" Day spring Presbyterian Church occupies an import- 
ant field of labor in Yonkers. Its services are well at- 
tended and the problem of how to reach the masses is 
here solved. It is the church of the people and for the 
people. All enter into its work with hearty zeal and de- 
votion." 

Two young men, members of the Dayspring Church, 
are preparing for the ministry, one in the Grammar School, 
(Kirkland Hall), Clinton, Oneida County, X. Y., and the 
other in Hamilton College, Clinton, N. Y. 

The following statement regarding the site of the 
new church building is from the annual report of the 
church, January, 1889: 

•' When a decision to build a new church was reached, 
the question of a site arose. Realizing that a church on a 
main avenue has great advantages over one on a side 
street, the board of trustees selected the corner of the two 
principal thoroughfares on the east side. A half-acre of 
ground at the corner of Elm and Walnut Streets, the choi- 
cest site for a church on the hill, was secured by the Board 
of Trustees for $5,000. It was purchased of a generous 
gentleman who was willing to sell it for church purposes 
for less than its value. Last year, in addition to giving 
$2,200 for current expenses and missions, the people, by a 
fair and other means, increased their building fund to 
$3,200. The old church site, which the Dayspring people 
purchased years ago for $1,250. is now worth $5,000. A 
friend has informed the Board that he has set aside S500 
for the new church. Several substantial citizens, who are 
accustomed to contribute liberally, have given the trustees 
assurances of their sympathy with the building project and 
their readiness to assist. As soon as practicable, plans are 
to be prepared, and if appeals for more contributions are 
responded to, in the near future ' a people's church ' will 
crown the eastern hill, and the Sabbath-going bell, swing- 



454 



CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 



ing in its graceful spire, will ' sprinkle with holy sounds ' 
the air of the three beautiful valleys below." 

The " Yonkers Statesman " of April 26, 1890, contains 
the following article, which indicates that the hopes of the 
Dayspring Presbyterian Church, in regard to a new build- 
ing, are about to be realized : 




Presbvlens-n Church 



THE NEW DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 



The new house of worship for Dayspring Presbyterian Church, of 
which the above is a good representation, is to be located on half an acre 
of ground on Walnut Street. The edifice will practically front on both 
streets, with a double entrance through the tower on the corner, and an en- 
trance on Walnut Street, both of which give access to a broad vestibule 
extending entirely across the Walnut Street front. The Walnut Street 



DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 455 

entrance also gives access to the lecture-room, parlors, Sunday-school 
room, etc., which are located to the north and adjoining the main building. 

The main auditorium is 64 feet wide and 74 feet long, with a seating 
capacity of about 700, exclusive of the gallery over, the vestibule, which will 
be so arranged that it can be extended on both sides when occasion re- 
quires. The lecture-room, adjoining the church proper, is 38 by 42 feet. 
The partition on one side will be arranged in sections, so that, in case of 
an overflow meeting, it can be utilized in connection with the main audito- 
rium. Near the Walnut Street entrance, and connected with the lecture- 
room by large sliding partitions, is the Trustees' room, 14 by 24, and par- 
lor, 20 by 24. 

To the rear of the lecture-room is a hallway having two outside en- 
trances, by which access is had to a generous serving room, underneath 
which, in the basement, will be the kitchen. Adjoining this hallway is the 
pastor's study, 14 by 16 feet, with a private doorway to the yard and to the 
pulpit platform. 

Access is had to the second story by two broad platform staircases, 
one near the Walnut Street entrance, and one from the rear hallway. The 
second story contains the Sunday-school room, 40 by 42 feet, a Primary 
class room 24 by 28, and four class-rooms 10 by 20, the partitions being so 
arranged that the entire second floor can be used as one large room, having 
a total length of 104 feet. Connected with the Sunday-school and Primary 
class room is the librarian's room, 8 by 12. 

The extreme size of the edifice will be 118 by 106 feet. The extension 
walls will be pressed brick and Massachusetts freestone. The interior fin- 
ish will be quartered oak. The windows will have stained glass of subdued 
tints. The pews will be arranged in amphitheatre style, with a gentle de- 
scent to the platform. At the left of the platform will be the choir and 
organ gallery, having a private entrance from Elm Street. The ceiling of 
the auditorium will be 44 feet high, and the total height of the spire from 
the sidewalk at the street corner to the apex of the cross will be 106 feet. 

The architect of this new church is Edwin A. Quick ; and Rev. Charles 
E. Allison and his people of the Dayspring Presbyterian Church may take 
a just pride in the fact that they will soon have one of the most beautiful, 
commodious, and convenient places of worship in the city. The estimated 
cost of this new house of worship is 145,000. 

Tuesday, September 2, 1890, ground was broken for the 
foundations of the new Dayspring Church. At six o'clock 
in the morning a goodly number of the congregation met 
in the present house of worship and repaired to the site of 
the proposed new church. " Praise God from whom all 
blessings now," was sung. The pastor, Rev. Charles E. 
Allison, read appropriate selections from Scripture, among 
them the 10th verse of the 28th chapter of 1 Chronicles — 
" Take heed now, for the Lord hath chosen thee to build a 
house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do it." The peo- 
ple sang : 



456 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

" I love thy kingdom, Lord, 
The house of thine abode." 

Prayers were offered by Thomas F. Hope and William 
Smith, and two more hymns were sung. 

The Session were represented in the assembly by all 
the Elders ; the Board of Trustees by the President, John 
H. Cutbill, and other members ; the choir by John W. Craft, 
the leader, H. L. Huntington, the organist, and others ; the 
Sunday-school by many teachers and scholars. 

After the brief but touching and impressive early 
morning service the benediction was pronounced by the 
pastor, and many went direct to their shops and factories 
and schools to take up with glad hearts their daily work. 

The first choir was composed of Samuel J. Berrian, or- 
ganist ; John Craft, tenor ; George Williamson and Frank 
Steadman, bass ; Miss Ida Sugden and Miss Mary Mitchell, 
soprano ; and Miss Valeria Ryder, alto. Mr. Berrian was 
faithful as a deacon of the church and rendered cheerful 
and effective service as organist until his failing health 
compelled withdrawal from the position. His death oc- 
curred in May, 1886. James Tong succeeded Mr. Berrian 
as organist. 

Miss Libbie Berrian has frequently presided at the or- 
gan and Miss Julia Wharmby has also rendered the church 
acceptable service as organist. Samuel Manoah Berrian 
also served as organist for a number of years. Robert 
Walsh was organist in 1887 and served the church without 
compensation. He was succeeded by Frederick E. Hubbell. 
The present organist is H. L. Huntington. There are 
about fifteen members in the choir, the leader being John 
W. Craft. He has been a member of the choir about eleven 
years and leader about five years. His assistant is James 
M. Rhys. Mr. Craft and his assistant have rendered valu- 
able aid in the choral services of the church. 

Charles R. Culver served the church as treasurer from 
its organization, April, 1879, until May, 1884. He was suc- 
ceeded by William Smith. When Mr. Smith's term of 
office expired Mr. Culver was reelected and still occupies 
that place. 

The first wedding in Dayspring Church was on the 



DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 457 

evening of September 12, 1883, when William S. Granger 
and Miss Carrie Mason Tanner were married by Rev. 
Charles E. Allison. 

Dennis Nodine acted as sexton for a number of years 
most faithfully. He was succeeded by John A. Smith, and 
he by James Reynolds. The present sexton is John W. 
Craft, who has served since January, 1887. 

The pulpit Bible was presented by William Allen But- 
ler, as was also the communion service. The latter is a 
handsome, plain set, a small cross upon the lid of the tank- 
ard being almost the only ornamentation. The goblets are 
gold lined and upon each piece is engraved " Dayspring 
Presbyterian Church. May 13, 1879." 

The baptismal bowl was presented by Wm. H. Veitch, 
September 25, 1879. 

The Lord's Supper is observed on the last Sunday 
morning in January, March, May, July, September, and No- 
vember. 

In connection with the work of Rev. Charles E. Alii 
son on Nodine Hill, the opening of a reading-room and li- 
brary, in the latter part of 1879, bears an important part. It 
is under the care of an organization distinct from the Day- 
spring Church. In its incorporation, however, it is provi- 
ded that the pastor of Dayspring Church, or if at any time 
there be no pastor, one of the elders of that church, shall be 
a member of the Board of Trustees. 

On January 9, 1880, Charles Lockwood, of Yonkers, 
presented this Association with a lot and a building which 
he had erected on it for its meetings and reading-room, with 
the expression of a wish that the institution might promote 
growth in Christian manhood and counteract evil influences 
which wreck character. 

The building is on Oliver Avenue, a short distanse in 
the rear of the present house of worship of the Dayspring 
Church. It is the property of the " Viewville Literary 
Association." The opening exercises were held in the 
Dayspring Church, January 16, 1880, after which the audi- 
ence repaired to the reading-room. The first book carried 
into it was a copy of the Holy Scriptures, " the Book of the 
Great King and the great king of books." 



458 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

In September Mr. Lockwood presented the reading- 
room one hundred and seventy-five new books, and a cata- 
logue of the circulating library was printed. Henry Bow- 
ers presented $20. In addition to historical and biographi- 
cal works the library has the works of Irving, Scott, Eliot, 
Black, Warner, Mulock, and Cooper. It also has the daily 
papers, and a stereoscope, double lenses, revolving views. 
The society gives literary and musical entertainments, and 
holds meetings from time to time for debates. 

April 13, 1888, a fine portrait of Charles Lockwood, the 
generous donor of the reading-room, was presented to the 
Viewville Literary Association. 

The first officers were the five trustees who were incor. 
porated as the Viewville Literary Association : Rev. C. E. 
Allison, President ; Wm. Smith, Secretary and Treasurer ; 
Samuel Granger, P. Kelly, and Robert Harper. Messrs. H. 
H. Ferguson, William Webb, Samuel Granger, Thomas 
L. Mottram, Henry Gaul, James E. Martin, and Louis W. Ar- 
cher have also served as its presidents. Messrs. William 
Smith, William Bates, Rev. C. E. Allison, and others have 
served as secretaries. Messrs. William Webb and Thomas 
W. lies served two terms as treasurers. The annalist of 
the society for 1889 was John B. Lees. He was succeeded 
by Henry Gaul, and he by Louis W. Archer. 

The following are its present officers : Louis W. Archer, 
President ; James E. Irvine, Secretary ; Rev. C. E. Allison, 
Treasurer. These officers, with Edwin Graham and Theo- 
dore Wicht, constitute the present Board of Trustees. 

The societies at work in and for the Dayspring Church 
and Sunday - school are : Young People's Association, the 
King's Daughters, Birthday Society, the Armor - Bearers 
(Mrs. Eva Field's class), the Willing Ten, the W. F. D. 
(Miss Christina Ryder's class), L. B. C. S. (Miss Lizzie 
Bruce's class), the Young Men's Bible-class Society, and 
the " Little Maids' " Society. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

At a meeting held in Dayspring Chapel on Sunday af- 
ternoon, May 19, 1872, at which William Allen Butler pre- 
sided and Charles Lockwood acted as secretary, it was 



DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 459 

resolved to establish a Sunday-school. On the following 
Sunday, May 26, 1872, Charles Lockwood, an elder in the 
First Presbyterian Church of Yonkers, was chosen superin- 
tendent, and Arthur Hay elected secretary and librarian. 

At this meeting classes were organized and the follow- 
ing persons offered their services as teachers : John W. 
Skinner, William C. Foote, Charles Lockwood, Richard 
Wynkoop, J. F. Travis, John Edwards, Arthur Hay, Mrs. 
Marie C. Hughes, Miss Irene Newell (now Mrs. A. C. Bene- 
dict), Miss Anna E. Smith, Miss Helen Foote, and Miss 
Annie Phillips. The school was opened with thirty-one 
scholars and the twelve teachers above mentioned. Nearly 
all of these teachers were either members of the First Pres- 
byterian Church or connected with the congregation. 

Mr. Lockwood in his superintendency of the Dayspring 
Sunday-school studiously avoided introducing any sensa- 
tional methods, either to retain the pupils or to draw chil- 
dren from other Sunday-schools in the city. He also aimed 
to secure the services of teachers who would instruct and 
interest their scholars in the study of the Scriptures, and 
not simply amuse or entertain them, but impart practical 
and doctrinal knowledge of the Word of God. In addition 
to his duties as superintendent, Mr. Lockwood frequently 
taught classes in the absence of teachers, sometimes divid- 
ing his time between the classes. 

The expense of sustaining the school for the year 1873 
was $145 60, which was generously met by the Missionary 
Association of the First Presbyterian Church, as was that of 
the following year, 1874, when the expenses of the school 
were $380 99. 

The attendance steadily increased so that the gallery 
of the chapel was occupied, the main room being filled. 
It numbered, in 1874, 140 pupils. At the close of the 
year the number so increased that the chapel could not 
comfortably accommodate all who came to the school. In 
April, 1875, steps were taken to enlarge the building. The 
chapel was closed from April 1 1 to May 23 in order to make 
the proposed enlargement. 

October 7, 1875, Mr. Lockwood reported that the Sun- 
day-school had donated $184 towards purchasing a bell for 



460 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

the chapel. The attendance at the close of 1875 was 149 
scholars and twenty-three teachers. At a communion ser- 
vice held June 20, 1875, nine scholars made a public confes- 
sion of their faith in Christ, uniting with the First Presby- 
terian Church. The school held a Christmas festival in 
December and a strawberry festival in March. Three hun- 
dred volumes were added to the Sunday-school library in 
1875. A large Bible-class was sustained. H. M. Schieffelin 
kept the school supplied with question books. 

At the anniversary of the Presbyterian Missionary 
Association, held Sunday afternoon, November 12, 1876, in 
the First Presbyterian Church, the Sunday-school was pres- 
ent and occupied the gallery of the church. Wm. Allen 
Butler expressed his gratification at the spectacle of a school 
so large and prosperous. Lucius E. Clark and Rev. Dr. 
Bulford, of Charleston, made addresses on that occasion. 
Superintendent Lockwood reported that the average attend- 
ance of the school was 204, and the largest attendance 227. 
There were twenty-six teachers, with an average attendance 
of twenty-three. Rev. C. E. Allison reported that there 
were 526 books in the library, that the school had been reg- 
ularly supplied with Sunday-school papers, and that fifty 
copies of the ''American Messenger" were distributed 
monthly among the congregation. 

In 1876 the young men's Bible-class, taught by the pas- 
tor, Rev. C. E. Allison, began the study of the life of Christ, 
upon which questions were prepared by the pastor. These 
questions " were upon the end, the means, and the methods 
of Bible study, also upon the social, political, and religious 
characteristics of Christ's day." The aim was to " make the 
questions direct as to the general and essential facts and 
doctrines, and suggestive as to those less essential." The 
questions were printed in circular form and on the title- 
page were the following suggestive sentences : " To know 
about Christ is one thing, to know Christ and to become 
like him is quite another. Pilate and Judas knew about 
him, Peter and John knew him." The class continued the 
study of the subject for two or three years, finishing " Rob- 
inson's Harmony of the Gospels." In 1877 the class num- 
bered from twenty-five to thirty young men. 



DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 46 1 

The following report of the Sunday-school is for the 
centennial year, 1876: Officers, 4; teachers, 23 ; number of 
pupils on register, 250; average attendance, 176; largest 
attendance, 231; number in infant class, 50; conversions, 
11 ; deaths, 2 ; volumes in library, 250. The school is pro- 
vided with the pastor's Bible-class for men and four Bible- 
classes for women. 

The officers of the school at that time were: Charles 
Lockwood, Superintendent ; P. Kelly, Treasurer and Libra- 
rian, with Chauncey Gouch and Henry Butler, assistants. 
And the teachers were : Mrs. H. C. Balch, Mrs. Christian 
Ryder, Miss Helen S. Foote, Miss Ida Belknap, Miss Mary 
B. Daniels, Miss M. C. Valentine, Miss Belle Parsons, Miss 
Sarah S. Clark, Miss Mary E. Beasley, Miss Sarah Ains- 
worth, Miss Annie McCullough, Miss Emma Clark, Miss 
Emma W. Hoyt, Miss Isabel Shipman, Miss Mary Bradford, 
Miss Tupper, Miss Williams, Miss Alice Kniffin, Miss Mary 
F. Sleight. Messrs. G. W. Farnum, J. F. Travis, Walter W. 
Law, P. Kelly, Henry Butler, Chauncey Gouch, and Rev. 
Charles E. Allison. 

In April, 1887, the chapel was so overcrowded that the 
pastor relinquished his class which he had taught for so 
many years, in order that the room it occupied might be 
assigned to classes of children. The young men's class was 
afterwards reorganized and is still taught by the pastor. 

' The women's Bible-class, which was taught by Mrs. 
Marie C. Hughes, was also overcrowded, and more room 
was needed to accommodate its increasing numbers in 
1877. Mrs. Hughes was most faithful in her devotion to 
her class. 

In 1876 Jonathan T. Travis, who had been a faithful 
and efficient teacher in the school since the day of its organ- 
ization, removed to Brooklyn. The school also sustained a 
great loss by the removal of Richard Wynkoop from the 
city. He had rendered valuable service both to the school 
and chapel. The pastor at an entertainment given by the 
friends of the chapel and school in June, 1877, was present- 
ed with an elegant gold watch. 

The Young People's Association of the Dayspring 
Presbvterian Church came into existence under the follow- 



462 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

ing interesting circumstances : William Smith, the founder, 
(who subsequently became its President) one evening in 
the month of May, 1876, while strolling in the neighbor- 
hood of Sixth Avenue and Twenty-third Street, New York 
city, attracted by singing, entered a young men's prayer- 
meeting of a Presbyterian church. He was deeply inter- 
ested in the service and impressed by the evident sincerity 
of the young leader and of those who took part therein. 
At the close of the meeting he received a cordial welcome 
from the young men which made him feel at once thor- 
oughly at home. He continued while in New York to 
attend the weekly meetings and induced some friends to 
attend them also. 

On his return to Yonkers he wondered whether a simi- 
lar meeting could not be established here. He gave the 
subject much thought, and resolved to make the attempt. 
One day he invited three of his friends to meet at his house 
on a certain evening. When they arrived he astonished 
them somewhat by informing them that they were to hold 
a prayer-meeting. After failing two or three times in their 
attempt to open the meeting, a hymn was sung and a prayer 
offered. The friends parted with serious impressions. The 
following week a meeting was held at another house, and 
this time two more had gathered, making a total of six. 
The meetings were held weekly, continuing to increase in 
numbers until parlors were crowded to their greatest capa- 
city. Application was made and granted for the use of a 
wing .of the Dayspring Church, and finally the main build- 
ing was thrown open. 

As time passed, desiring to further extend their useful- 
ness, it was decided to admit to the meetings, which had 
heretofore been exclusively for young men, young persons 
of both sexes. A meeting was held and the Young Peo- 
ple's Association of the Dayspring Presbyterian Church 
was organized to succeed the young men's meeting. 

May 12, 1884, the pastor, Rev. C. E. Allison, suggested 
to the Association the advisability of establishing a fund for 
the erection of a new church building. The suggestion 
was adopted and the first contribution was then made. 

The twelfth anniversary of the association was held in 



DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 463 

the church Monday evening, May 24, 1888. There were 
present representatives from all the young people's associa- 
tions in the city. The President of the society, William 
Smith, presided. After singing, Frank B. Hickey, of the 
Westminster Church, offered prayer. A selection from the 
Scriptures was read by Richard Edie, of the Warburton 
Avenue Baptist Church, which was followed by the report 
of the secretary, Walter Reynolds. The average attend- 
ance was fifty-eight. One death had occurred during the 
year, and the membership had been increased by the addi- 
tion of four new members. The membership at that time 
was seventy-five. 

Miss Libbie Berrian, the treasurer, reported that $88 
had been expended during the year. Balance in treasury, 
$12. Addresses were made by William Smith and Rev. C. 
E. Allison. The meeting was closed by singing, and prayer 
by William M. Dick, of the Reformed Church. 

It has been the custom of the society to go for an out- 
ing each Fourth of July, games of various descriptions and 
refreshments being indulged in, and also contests in various 
athletic sports for appropriate trophies. This annual fea- 
ture was in no small measure the cause of an increase in 
the popularity and beneficial influence of the Association 

The weekly meeting of the Association is held every 
Monday evening. Every two months a missionary meet- 
ing is held, the topic under consideration being either 
home or foreign missions. The Association entered upon 
its sixteenth year last May. It rendered efficient service at 
the church fair held in November, 1887. 

With appropriate exercises the Association celebrated 
its next anniversary Monday evening, May 21, 1889. Wm. 
Smith, an ex-President of the Association, presided. The 
reports of the officers showed that the members had not 
been weary in well-doing. Interesting remarks were made 
by George D. Mackay, President of the Y. M. C. A., and 
Rev. Charles E. Allison. 

The Association celebrated on Monday evening, May 
21, 1890, its fourteenth anniversary with a pleasant gather- 
ing. Theodore Ross, the President, presided. William 
Smith, the founder, offered prayer. Mr. Ross read from 



464 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

the Scriptures, and Rev. Charles E. Allison and Franklin 
Soper, M. D., made addresses. Representatives from the 
sister societies of the Westminster and Reformed churches 
were present. 

The singing book used by the Association in their 
weekly prayer-meetings is the " Gospel Hymns," by Messrs. 
Moody and Sankey. 

The officers of the Young People's Association for 1889 
were : William B. Jones, President ; John Ross, Vice-Presi- 
dent ; Jerome Kollmer, Secretary ; Rev. C. E. Allison, ex- 
officio member of board. William Smith, Walter Reynolds, 
Thomas Woodruff, Libbie Berrian, Anna L. Graham, Grace 
Banks, and Annie Young, with the four officers above 
mentioned, constitute the Board of Trustees. The commit- 
tees were : Miss A. Graham, Miss L. Berrran, Miss G. Banks, 
W. Smith, T. Woodruff, and W. Jones, visiting ; Miss 
Webb, Miss Young, Miss Graham, Mr. Ross, Mr. Reynolds, 
and W. Smith, introduction ; Messrs. Reynolds, Ross, Smith, 
and Woodruff, employment. 

June 1, 1879, Charles Lockwood assumed the entire ex- 
pense of supporting the Sunday-school, about $320 a year. 
For several years he continued to bear this expense. The 
following figures give some idea of the standing and condi- 
tion of the school from 1872 to 1879 : l %7 2 > % 2 scholars on 
the roll and 12 teachers; 1873, 150 scholars, average attend- 
ance, 100; 1874, average attendance, no, teachers, 21 ; 1875, 
attendance, 149, teachers, 23 ; 1876, attendance 204, teach- 
ers, 23 ; 1877, attendance 208, teachers, 26 ; 1878, attendance 
178, teachers, 22 ; 1879, attendance 167, teachers, 20. 

The following persons taught in the Sunday-school be- 
tween 1872 and 1879: Messrs. Lockwood, Kelly, Gouch, 
Butler, Allison, Wynkoop, Travis, Van Norden, Allen, Tay- 
lor, Farnum, Law, Foote, Smith, L. Morse, A. J. Prime, Sal- 
ter, Clark, Wainwright, Van Tassell, and Henry Taylor, 
Mrs. Parsons, Mrs. M. C. Hughes, Mrs. Balch, Mrs. Bate, 
Mrs. Mapes, Mrs. Jordan, Mrs. Bates, Misses Ida Belknap, 
M. E. Bradford, Tappen, M. McCartey, Helen Foote, Emma 
Clark, Mary Willard, Annie McCullough, M. Flagg, B. Par- 
sons, G. Cruikshank, Josie Sawyer, B. Shipman, Cora Mack- 
rell, Mary Butler, Harriet Butler, Kellogg, Valentine, Smith, 



, DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 465 

Hoyt, McMillan, Mary B. Daniels, Beasley, Ryder, Newell, 
and Hipson. 

On Wednesday evening, June 7, 1882, the Sunday- 
school enjoyed, its annual strawberry and ice-cream festi- 
val. An interesting feature of the exercises was the pre- 
sentation of books as rewards for Bible study and regular at- 
tendance during the year. Sarah Smith, Julia Hill, Emma 
Dutton, Katie Archer, Louise Webb, James Andrews, and 
Lena and Belle Weisendonger received books for regular 
and punctual attendance, and Lena Weisendonger a volume 
of poems for learning Scripture verses. She had committed 
to memory 927 verses. 

" The pen of the historian cannot record all the names 
of those who were the true friends of the church and Sun- 
day-school. The record of their fidelity is above on the 
books of Him whose reward is sure." But it seems peculiar- 
ly fitting to note briefly the work of one who was identified 
with the interests and success of the church and Sunday-, 
school from its organization. At the time of the building of 
a house of worship on Nodine Hill no one took deeper in- 
terest, nor discharged more efficiently and faithfully his du- 
ties as a member of the building committee, than did Pat- 
rick Kelly. In the Dayspring Church Annals," written by 
Rev. C. E. Allison, is the following : " He was a generous 
and faithful friend. If anything was to be attended to in 
connection with enlarging, repairing, trimming, or caring 
for the chapel, Mr. Kelly was the man to do it, or to see that 
it was well done. He was unassuming as he was faithful." 

Mr. Kelly served as librarian, secretary, and treasurer 
of the Dayspring Sunday-school. He died suddenly, Sep- 
tember 16, 1882, on the morning of his return from Europe, 
whither he had gone for the restoration of his health. 

Funeral services were held on Wednesday afternoon, 
September 20, in the First Presbyterian Church. The ser- 
vices were conducted by Rev. John Reid, assisted by Rev. 
, Charles E. Allison. Rev. Mr. Reid, in his address, said 

* The Dayspring Church has a book entitled "Annals." It is kept by 
the pastor, who has recorded important events in the growth of the church 
and of the east side of the city. It has come to be greatly valued by the 
people. 

Sunday-school Work. T^O 



466 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

with much feeling : " Here is a man whom I knew — whom 
I loved — a man of usefulness and of sterling integrity. His 
life-work was one of consistency, bringing honor to the 
church. He was a trustee and deacon, and as such respect- 
ed. In all the efforts to improve this church he was ready 
to do his part. Being dead he yet speaketh." 

In September, 1886, prizes were offered to the mem- 
bers of the Sunday-school who should collect the largest 
amount towards the building fund. A meeting was held 
to hear the names of those who had collected the largest 
amount and to enjoy the refreshments which the ladies 
had provided. Congratulatory remarks were made by 
Charles Lockwood, William Smith, and Rev. C. E. Allison. 
The first prize, an elegant dressing-case, was presented to 
Emma Menzer, who had collected $80 20. The second prize, 
also a beautiful dressing-case, was given to Florence Wharm- 
by, who had collected $25 05. George Thomas received the 
third prize, a riding whip. He had collected $21 55. A 
doll, which was offered to the member of the infant class 
who should bring the largest amount, was given to little 
Susie Percival, who had collected $5 06. A large cake was 
given to industrious Jacob Minnerly, who had found time, 
although his daily work was heavy and wearisome, to fill 
nearly four of the little collection barrels. " Honor to 
whom honor is due." The whole amount collected by 
this effort was $300. 

The Dayspring Church Boys' Society was organized 
April, 1887. In July, 1887, it numbered fifty members. 
The boys, in connection with this society, established a 
prayer-meeting in April, 1887. 

A class taught by Miss Cora W. Mackrell, known as 
the " Willing Ten," consisting of ten young ladies, gave a 
very pleasant entertainment at Temperance Hall, in Octo- 
ber, 1887, in behalf of the church building fund. The class 
also raised by their floral arbor at the church fair, held 
November, 1887, $150. 

The King's Daughters is another society which raised 
$243 85 for the building fund at the fair. The Birthday 
Society presented the treasurer of the church with $60 for 
this object. James M. Rhys' singing class also worked 



DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 467 

for the church building fund. The Heart and Hand So- 
ciety, organized January, 1887, of which Miss Emma Menzer 
was President, Miss Julia Wharmby, Treasurer, and Miss 
Amelia Menzer, Secretary, in January, 1887, presented the 
church with §63, and on Christmas, 1888, a fine Decker 
piano. The Cup of Water Society raised $89 for the church 
building fund in 1887, and the Golden Seal Society also 
contributed. 

In 1884 the following teachers were in the Sunday- 
school : Messrs. Robert Harper, Herbert Claxton, Ogden 
Wilson, James Smith, Henry Gaul, George K. Gilbert, 
McKittrick, Miller, Granger, Field, and Benjamin F. Parli- 
man ; Misses Joyce, Ainsworth, Williams, Stewart, Dwight, 
Kittie Goddard, Armenia Baird, Fannie Upham, Carson, 
Kniffin, Jordan, Haight, Hall, Gray, Worden, May Tappen, 
Ella Coles, Latham, Ada Daughaday, and Churchill, and 
at a later date, Misses Davidson, Louisa Webb, Eliza Smith, 
Lockwood, Gould, Lizzie Graham, and Underhill. 

The first teacher who had charge of the primary depart- 
ment of the school was Miss Ida Belknap. In addition to 
her duties as superintendent of the department she foster- 
ed by patient and faithful work the musical exercises, which 
are not the least important feature of the work of the Sun- 
day-school. She also, for many years, led the singing in the 
Friday evening prayer-meeting and on Sunday afternoon 
in the church. In the festivals, fairs, and entertainments 
held for the benefit of the church she was suggestive and 
efficient in methods and ways to make them attractive and 
successful. Hers was long-continued service. In 1880 this 
department, under Miss Belknap's charge, had more than 
one hundred names enrolled. 

Mrs. Robert Harper succeeded Miss Belknap. She was 
succeeded by the superintendent, Charles Lockwood, who 
taught for a year. He was succeeded by Miss Sugden, as- 
sisted by Miss Cora Aldrich. Miss Cora Mackrell taught it 
for a brief period. The department at present is efficiently 
taught by Miss Mary Chapman. It enrolls about one hun- 
dred pupils (May, 1891). The International Lessons are 
taught, also the Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, and 
"Child's Short Catechism," edited by Rev. J. Haddington 



468 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Brown. The " Little Folks' Paper " is distributed. This 
department meets in the Viewville Reading-room, at 2 : 30 
p. m., there being insufficient room for it in the church. 

On Thursday, July 12, 1888, the Day spring Sunday- 
school, with the Warburton Avenue Baptist Sunday-school 
and the Nepperhan Avenue Mission Sunday-school, went on 
an excursion to Boynton Beach, N. J. On this grand union 
Sunday-school excursion were over sixteen hundred persons. 

Report to Presbytery for 1880: Officers and teachers, 
27; adult scholars, 24; youth and children, 251 ; total mem- 
bership, 302; average attendance, 170; number united with 
the church, 4. 

Report of Session to Presbytery for 1885 : Officers, 4 ; 
teachers, 24; scholars, 223: total, 251 ; average attendance, 
165 ; average attendance of scholars at church, 60; number 
received into church, 4 ; books, 600 ; amount given to our 
Boards, $20 ; to other benevolent objects, $70. 

Report to Presbytery for 1886 : Officers, 4 ; teachers, 27 ; 
scholars, 269: total, 300 ; average attendance, 185 ; average 
attendance of scholars at church, 100 ; received into church, 
10 ; books in the library, 500 ; amount given to our boards, 
$254; to other benevolent boards, $150. 

Report to Presbytery for 1888: Officers, 4; teachers, 
29; scholars, 289: total, 322; average attendance, 210; 
average attendance of scholars at church, 125 ; scholars 
members of church, 60 ; books in library, 340. 

The following is the statistical report of the Session for 
twelve years, to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
Church: The number of scholars in the school in 1880 was 
280 ; in 1881, 325 ; in 1882, 335 ; 1883, 305 ; 1884, 310 ; 1885, 
251; 1886,300; 1887,299; 1888, 322; 1889, 300; 1890, 330; 
1891, 310. 

Charles Lockwood, after sixteen years of uninterrupted 
service as superintendent of Dayspring Sunday-school, re- 
signed in April, 1888. On his retirement the officers and 
teachers, as an expression of their estimation of him as an 
honored and valued associate, and as an earnest and faith- 
ful Christian worker in the Master's vineyard, passed the 
following resolutions, which were subsequently beautifully 
engrossed and presented to him. 



DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 469 

A TESTIMONIAL. 

Whereas, The organization and growth of both Day- 
spring Sunday-school and Dayspring Presbyterian Church 
are largely due to the long-continued labor and generosity 
of Charles Lockwood ; and 

Whereas, He has served the Sunday-school as superin- 
tendent from its organization (May, 1872) up to the present 
day, and has been deeply interested in the welfare of Day- 
spring Presbyterian Church from the time it was founded 
(April, 1 879) ; therefore 

Resolved, That we, the officers and teachers of the Sab- 
bath-school, together with the pastor and elders of the 
church, by formal and joint resolution, assure Mr. Lock- 
wood of our esteem and great gratitude, realizing as we do 
that hundreds of children and youth who have been mem- 
bers of the Dayspring Sunday-school have received inesti- 
mable instruction in the Word of God by reason of Mr. 
Lockwood's profound interest in their highest welfare, 
many of them having been taught regularly for years by 
teachers brought from their distant homes at his expense. 

Resolved, That we congratulate him upon the pleasure 
he must enjoy as he reviews these many years of efficient 
service for that divine Master who regards what is done for 
the least of his brethren as done for him, and who assures 
his people that whosoever giveth even a cup of cold water 
in the name of a disciple shall not lose his reward. 

Resolved, that we also congratulate him upon the en- 
during and ever-widening influence which the Sunday- 
school and the Dayspring Presbyterian Church he has done 
so much to establish and strengthen promise to exert for 
promoting God's glory and man's good long after he and 
his associates have been called to their reward. 

Resolved by the Session, That these resolutions be spread 
upon the Sessional records, and by the officers and teachers 
of the Sunday-school that they be engrossed and presented 
to Mr. Lockwood on the day he retires from the office of 
superintendent. 

Yonkers, May, 1888. 



470 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

When Mr. Lockwood resigned he assured the school of 
his undiminished interest is its welfare, and said that he 
expected to remain as a teacher. He suggested that com- 
mittees be formed to have oversight of the various depart- 
ments, such as library, music, entertainments, special meet- 
ings, visiting, etc. 

In the year 1881 the Dayspring Sunday-school was the 
second largest Sunday-school in the Westchester Presbytery, 
which numbered at that date thirty-nine churches. The 
enrolment in April, 1889, was three hundred scholars. The 
number of scholars who were received into the communion 
of the church in 1887 was twenty-one. 

The Christmas festivals of the Dayspring Sunday- 
school, with their snow-covered ship, their North Pole 
railroad, their chimney and reindeer and sleigh, have 
always been very enjoyable. The last one was celebrated 
by the Dayspring " Magi and Midgets " on December 27, 
1890. 

After the Scriptures were read, prayer was offered by 
Charles Lockwood and an address was made by Rev. 
Charles E. Allison. Sweet carols were sung during the 
evening, among them one by the infant-class. Carrie Bate 
recited a Christmas poem. A cantata was rendered by a 
dozen or more lads and lassies. It represented the Christ- 
mas of a sailor's family and was greatly enjoyed by the 
large audience of little folk. Then another company of 
midgets presented . a Christmas piece entitled " The Old 
Woman who Lived in a Shoe." Both this piece and the 
cantata were under the direction of Mrs. Eva Field, Miss 
Lizzie Wharmby, and Miss Hattie Howarth, who for many 
weeks had been training the participants. 

At the close of the exercises presents were distributed. 
From a beautiful Christmas-tree very pretty dolls arrayed 
in lovely dresses were taken and passed over to the eager 
little girls. The boys received tool-chests, and the next 
day Nodine Hill abounded in juvenile carpenters. Wil- 
liam Smith, the superintendent, received a beautiful chair 
and wall-pocket ; and John Craft, the choir-leader, an ele- 
gant clock. Many other gifts were distributed. 

The school contributes annually towards foreign mis- 



DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 47 1 

sions, and helps support a Sunday-school in the South for 
poor whites. 

Miss Ada M. Daughaday, a former teacher of this 
school, is now a missionary at the Osaka station of the 
Japan Mission. 

The energetic and devoted pastor of the Presbyterian 
Church at Shelter Island, N. Y., Rev. Benjamin F. Parli- 
man, and Rev. F. B. Dwight, subsequently pastor of the 
First Presbyterian Church at Sing Sing, N. Y., were also 
teachers in this Sunday-school. 

Dayspring Sunday-school has been the child of prayer 
and of faith. It has been and is now the hope of the 
church. Never was a more faithful or self-denying body 
of teachers gathered together. 

The Sunday-school hymn-book is " Select Hymns." 
The school sessions are at 2 : 30 P. M. ; teachers' meetings 
are held Saturday evenings. 

There have been but two superintendents of this Sun- 
day - school since its organization — Charles Lockwood, 
elected May 1, 1872 (resigned April, 1888), and William 
Smith, elected May, 1888. The present officers are: Wil- 
liam Smith, Superintendent ; Charles Lockwood, Assistant 
Superintendent ; Miss Annie L. Graham, Lady Superin- 
tendent ; John H. Cutbill, Treasurer and Librarian ; Robert 
L. Field, Assistant Librarian ; Miss Libbie Berrian, Organ- 
ist ; John W. Craft, Precentor. 

The teachers are Mrs. Annie A. Howell, Mrs. Annie 
E. Davis, Mrs. Allen Taylor, Mrs. Mary E. Van Tassell, 
Mrs. Henry Steadman, Mrs. Harry Hipson, Mrs. Eva Field, 
Miss Amelia Menzer, Miss Martha Curran, Miss Lizzie 
Wharmby, Miss Libbie Berrian, Miss Lottie Percival, Miss 
Annie Graham,' Miss Eliza Smith, Miss Julia Lichtenber- 
ger, Miss Edith Kendall, Miss Christina Ryder, Miss Mae 
Lillian Cutbill, Miss Leila Sugden, Miss Lizzie Bruce, Miss 
Louisa Desgrey, Miss Mary Chapman, Messrs. Charles 
Lockwood, Uriah Wilson, Thomas H. Smith, Theodore 
Wicht, George A. Waechter, Joseph Smith, and Rev. 
Charles Elmer Allison. 

" These officers and teachers, constrained by the love 
of their great Teacher, are earnestly endeavoring to impart 



472 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

to their classes such instruction out of God's Word that 
the children and youth of Dayspring Sunday-school, while 
increasing in stature, may also * increase in wisdom and in 
favor with God and man,' and may 'go before the face of 
the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salva- 
tion unto his people by the remission of their sins through 
the tender mercy of our God, whereby the Dayspring from 
on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in 
darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into 
the way of peace.' " 



MESSIAH BAPTIST CHURCH. 473 



CHAPTER XXI. 

MESSIAH BAPTIST CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

In the month of July, 1872, Mrs. Henry Peel, Mrs. 
Grace Purdy, and Henry E. Duers organized the prayer- 
meeting which was held at the house of Mrs. Henry Peel 
in Ritter's Lane, near East Ashburton Avenue, from which 
sprang the Messiah Baptist Church. In 1874 Henry E. 
Duers, of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, sent a 
note addressed to the congregation of the A. M. E. Zion 
Church, who at that time were worshipping in Rooney 
Hall, on North Broadway, requesting their pastor to read it 
at the evening service. The note contained the following 
request : 

" Members of Baptist churches in Yonkers who are pres- 
ent are requested to attend a meeting to be held in Town- 
send Hall on the following Tuesday." 

After reading this notice the pastor gave his unquali- 
fied disapproval of it in words which could be plainly under- 
stood by his hearers. In response to the invitation three 
persons — Frederick Gilliam, Deacon Roberts, and Henry 
E. Duers — met in Townsend Hall at the time appointed. 
A Sunday service was held in that hall two weeks later 
and a sermon was preached by Rev. H. Dennis, a student 
in the Richmond Institute, Va. 

The next Sunday, A. F. Decker, a member of the 
Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, addressed the little 
gathering. Townsend Hall was secured for continued ser- 
vices at a rental of $20 per month. In the month of May 
there was considerable difficulty in raising the amount re- 
quired. Said one of the congregation, in recalling this ex- 
perience, " The time was dark for us, very dark. The rent 
was called for, but there was no money in the treasury. 
Two days after the rent was due $22 was handed to us. It 
was the contribution of nineteen different persons. From 
that day we decided to call our mission ' Immanuel,' by 



474 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

which name it was known until July, 1876, when it was 
changed to ' Messiah.' " 

During the year 1874-75 the prayer-meeting was held 
with some irregularity at the home of Mrs. Peel. Those 
who were always present whenever it was held were Thom- 
as Peel, Henry Evans, Joseph Maltby, James White, Charles 
Mann, Richard Bailey, and Henry Travis, all of whom may 
be considered the founders of the new Baptist society which 
subsequently became an established church organization. 
Of the above mentioned persons all but two — Henry Evans 
and Richard Bailey — remain in the communion of the Mes- 
siah Baptist Church to-day. 

There appear to be conflicting opinions in regard to 
the exact date of the organization of this church. Some of 
the early members assert that it was organized in the spring 
of 1875. 

Whereas the fifteenth anniversary of the organization 
of this church was held in the new church building in the 
month of July, 1889, in accordance with that date we give 
the time of its organization as above. Rev. William Spel- 
man, of New York city, was present at its organization, 
which was accomplished in Townsend Hall, North Broad- 
way, with twenty members. 

We find in the statistical record of the fifteenth annual 
meeting of the New England Baptist Missionary Conven- 
tion, held in Philadelphia, Pa., June 19, 1882, the word " uni- 
ted" in connection with this church, and the date 1879. As 
this is an official church record, we give 1879 as the y© ar 
when this Baptist society was officially recognized as an 
organized church. 

Sunday services were regularly held after the organiza- 
tion, and the stated services of Rev. R. D. Wynn were se- 
cured. For a number of years church services were held 
in Townsend Hall under unpleasant and serious disadvan- 
tages which were unfavorable to the growth and prosperity 
of the church. An effort was made to purchase the build- 
ing with a view to its enlargement and improvement for 
church purposes. The amount required was $600. An 
appeal was made to friends in Yonkers for assistance to 
raise that sum, provided the members of the church and 



MESSIAH BAPTIST CHURCH. 475 

congregation would raise half of the money needed. The 
matter was taken into consideration by a committee from 
the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, consisting of J. W. 
Ackerman, William Holme, and Samuel Dinsmore, who 
approved of the plan, provided the money needed for the 
purchase of the property could be secured. 

The congregation, through great effort, succeeded in 
purchasing a lot on Woodworth Avenue, near the corner 
of Ashburton Avenue, upon which they hoped to erect a 
church building, the former plan being abandoned. An 
effort was made to start a building-fund, and to this end 
several entertainments and concerts were given. Their 
efforts were not as successful as they had hoped, and at 
times they feared that this plan also would have to be 
given up. But a few of their number with undaunted cour- 
age, energy, and pluck determined to press onward despite 
the unceasing and almost insurmountable obstacles which 
ever and anon arose in their pathway. 

At this period of the church's history the hearts of its 
members were made to rejoice by the announcement that 
James B. Colgate had purchased a portion of the Dr. Levi 
W. Flagg estate on Ashburton Place, with the building 
thereon, formerly known as the " Leighton Academy," 
which was to be remodelled for a church for their use. 

The church is an attractive wooden structure and is 
entered from the north through wide folding doors, open- 
ing into a vestibule which is 1 1 feet wide and 32 feet long, 
from which two doors communicate with the main audi- 
torium, which has two aisles, one on each side. The seat- 
ing capacity is about 260, divided into sixty-four pews, 
made of white ash, as is also the pulpit desk, which is rich- 
ly panelled and ornamented and finished with a movable 
upholstered top. The rostrum occupies a recess at the 
south end of the room. It is furnished with three hand- 
somely upholstered white oak chairs. 

Beneath the rostrum is the baptistry, reached by stairs 
at either side, and communicates with robing and toilet 
rooms, and also with the pastor's study, from the latter 
of which exit is had to the yard in the rear of the church. 

A broad and easy flight of stairs in the main vestibule 



476 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

leads to the second story, which, is divided into three rooms, 
the larger one being 30 by 36 feet, and the two smaller ones 
14 by 18 feet each. There are glass partitions between 
these rooms, so arranged that the entire floor can be thrown 
into one large room whenever necessary to so use it. 

The cost of the property, including the improvements, 
was $15,000. The work of reconstructing and completing 
the building was done by the following firms : Edwin A. 
Quick, architect ; J. and G. Stewart, mason work ; S. F. 
Quick, carpenter work. 

The presentation of this church edifice by Mr. Colgate 
occurred in the same month, June, nineteen years after, 
as the presentation of the princely gift of the beautiful 
Warburton Avenue Baptist Church by him and his associate 
and friend, John B. Trevor, to the Mount Olivet Baptist 
Church of Yonkers. 

The new church was opened on Sunday morning, June 
3, 1888. Rev. E. Bird preached the introductory sermon. 
At the dedicatory services, held in the afternoon at 2 : 30 
o'clock, a large congregation of colored and white people 
were present. The services were opened with the singing of 
the doxology, and the pastor, Rev. A. B. Brown, repeated 
the Lord's Prayer. The choir of the Mount Olivet Baptist 
Church, New York city, were present, with their leader, 
Samuel Jackson, and assisted by Miss Virginia E. Hunt, 
who presided at the organ, led the congregation in singing. 
Dr. Perry read the following Scripture selections : Exodus 
25 : 1-10, and 1 Kings 8 : 12-30. Rev. E. Bird, of Brooklyn, 
offered the prayer of dedication. 

After the prayer James B. Colgate made the presenta- 
tion address. After referring briefly to the early history 
of the church and to the unattractiveness and difficulties 
which surrounded them in their former place of worship, 
Mr. Colgate said : 

" You are now situated at a central point, in the centre 
of the religious influence of the city of Yonkers. You have 
on the south of you the Presbyterian Church, where is con- 
centrated wealth and learning. To the north is St. Paul's 
Church, with its very beautiful service and ritual. To the 
east is the Methodist Church, burning with zeal for Christ 



MESSIAH BAPTIST CHURCH. 477 

and Methodism. And near by is the Warburton Avenue 
Baptist Church, whose members love the Lord Jesus Christ. 
These surroundings ought to be an incentive to you to do 
better things. Every one of these churches will watch you. 
If you behave yourselves and follow the precepts of the 
Lord Jesus Christ, they will respect you. No one, however, 
will respect you unless you respect yourselves. 

" Now I have given this property to the Warburton 
Avenue Baptist Church, in trust for you. The trustees of 
that church are to lease this property to you for twenty 
years at $i a year. The gift has been made, however, under 
certain restrictions. The lease is to be made in accordance 
with the spirit of a letter. That letter says that this build- 
ing shall never be encumbered with a mortgage or any 
other debt. Again, this place cannot be sublet, except for 
use as a church of Christ. Among the expenses you will 
have will be those produced in keeping the property in 
repair and in insuring it. And if this property is burned 
or condemned by the authorities, the money received from 
the insurance or the sale must be used to build another 
Baptist church for the colored people. 

" Another clause says that this lease is made for a 
church of Christ. It is not made to quarrel in, and if dis- 
sensions arise among you and they do not cease after the 
trustees of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church have 
notified you, the trustees can take possession and close the 
house. The church of Christ is not made to quarrel in — ' a 
new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one an- 
other.' While it is stated here that it cannot be sublet, 
another clause says that you may lease it to a society for 
an evening for such purposes as are not unbecoming a 
church of Christ. The lease may be renewed at the end 
of twenty years. 

" Now, Mr. Chairman, I am done. I present this lease 
and this letter to you. I present to you also the key to 
this building. And may God bless you ; may the spirit of 
Christ dwell within you ; and may you abundantly prosper 
and increase like a fruitful vine." 

Rev. Mr. Brown, the pastor, responded briefly to Mr. 
Colgate's remarks, and read resolutions which had been 



478 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

unanimously adopted at a meeting of the church, on Sun- 
day, December 18, 1878, expressive of the gratitude of the 
congregation to James B. Colgate for his liberal gift of a 
building suitable for a church and Sunday-school, which 
were signed by the pastor, deacons, and trustees of the 
church. Thanks were also extended to Mrs. James B. Col- 
gate for the beautiful pulpit Bible ; to Theodore Gaul for 
a handsome clock ; to E. A. Quick, the architect, who plan- 
ned and carried out the reconstruction of their building to 
the entire satisfaction of all concerned ; and finally to all 
who had in any way helped them to better their condition. 

A hymn was then sung, after which Rev. Dr. R. L. 
Penney, of Brooklyn, preached the dedicatory sermon from 
the text Mark 9:5-7: " And Peter answered and said to 
Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here ; let us make 
three tabernacles, one for thee and one for Moses and one 
for Elias." Rev. Dr. Wisher, of the Mount Olivet Bap~ 
tist Church, Brooklyn, preached the evening sermon. 
Preaching services were held every evening the following 
week. The meetings were well attended and were the 
means of stimulating the congregation to renewed activity 
and devotion to church work. The committee of arrange- 
ments for those and also for the dedicatory services were : 
C. S. Fariess, chairman : H. Evans, R. Pollard, J. Scott, 
R. R. Bailey, and R. Pollard, Jr. 

The successive pastors of the church have been : Rev. 
R. D. Wynn, Rev. Joseph Francis, Rev. William S. Bass, 
Rev. Joseph Miller (deceased), Rev. Joseph Bailey, and 
Rev. Abraham B. Brown, the latter from August 1, 1886, 
to September 5, 1889. 

The present pastor of this church, Rev. Alexander M. 
Conway, was born in Virginia, July 5, 1846. After a varied 
experience he became converted and was baptized and uni- 
ted with the First Colored Baptist Church of Danville, Va., 
in 1 866. He obtained his early education while working at 
his trade as a carpenter and attending night-school. 

In 1870 he was admitted to the theological class of 
the Richmond Institute, Va., where he remained for four 
years, during which time he organized four Sunday-schools 
and spent his vacation in preaching. In 1875 he was or- 



MESSIAH BAPTIST CHURCH. 479 

dained to the gospel ministry in the First Colored Baptist 
Church of Danville. In July of the same year he became 
pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church of Salisbury, 
N. C, and served as its pastor for four years. During those 
years the membership of the church and Sunday-school was 
greatly increased and the church property was purchased. 
It was during his pastorate of that church that he served 
as secretary of the Rawan Baptist Association. In 1879 ^ e 
was called to the pastorate of the First Colored Baptist 
Church of Wilmington, N. C. 

His pastorate of more than eleven years of that church 
was most successful in its results ; many precious souls 
were added to the church. One thousand dollars was ex- 
pended in improvements on the church property, and on 
his resignation of the pastorate §1,700 was in the church 
treasury towards the erection of a new church edifice. 
During this pastorate two churches and four Sunday-schools 
were organized. 

Rev. Mr. Conway was twice the Secretary of the Col- 
ored Baptist State Convention, and at one time its Vice-Pres- 
ident. He was also the Vice-President of the Middle Dis- 
trict Baptist Association. He also served as President of 
the Wilmington Colored Missionary Association, and was 
appointed delegate by that association to represent it in 
the North Carolina Missionary Association at their annual 
convocation. In February, 1890, Mr. Conway was called 
and accepted the pastorate of the Messiah Baptist Church 
of Yonkers. His brief pastorate of this church has been 
fruitful in its results. Twenty-five persons have been added 
to the membership of the church, and he has succeeded in 
uniting the church in active, aggressive Christian effort. 
His superintendency of the Sunday-school has been espe- 
cially gratifying and successful. 

The officers of the church are : Albert Roberts, Henry 
Evans, Reuben Pollard, Heath Scay, and E. Thornton, dea- 
cons ; Wm. Holme, J. W. Ackerman, Samuel Dinsmore, 
Charles S. Fariess, Richard Pollard, Nelson Jaycox, and 
H. H. Howard, trustees. The officers of the board of trus- 
tees are : Rev. C. S. Fariess, President : J. W. Ackerman, 
Treasurer; Richard Pollard, Secretary. The membership 



480 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

of the church, as reported in the minutes of the annual 
meeting of the New England Baptist Missionary Conven- 
tion, 1890, is 81. 

The Woman's Missionary Circle of the church was 
organized by Mrs. J. B. Colgate, in July, 1888, with Mrs. 
Lucy Scay as President, and Mrs. Mary E. Maltby as Secre- 
tary and Treasurer, and twelve contributing members. The 
circle is still in its infancy, but gives promise of usefulness 
and growing stability. 

The communion service was presented by Rev. R. D. 
Wynn. The organist of the church is Miss Josephine Malt- 
by. The sexton is Edward Bush. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

This Sunday-school was founded in the summer of 1874 
by Mrs. Harriet Moore, who was assisted in her work by 
John H. and Agnes Travis. The first place of meeting 
was Townsend Hall, on North Broadway. The school was 
opened with six pupils. Mrs. Moore, with her associate 
helper, had charge of this school for one year. She was 
an earnest, faithful worker. Under her labors the school in- 
creased to about twenty pupils. The school appears to have 
decreased in number after Mrs. Moore removed from the 
city in the following year, until it was abandoned altogether. 

R. D. Cheek succeeded Mrs. Moore as superintendent. 
A letter received from him, under date of Philadelphia, July 
7, 1 889, .contains this statement : " I found no Sunday-school 
work among colored children at Yonkers at all. In the 
month of May, 1881, 1 organized the present Messiah Baptist 
Sunday-school. Miss Lucy Peel was chosen secretary. 
Henry Peel, P. Scott, and Mrs. H. Peel and Mrs. R. Bailey, 
and one or two others were my teachers. The school when 
I left it numbered about thirty-five scholars." 

Henry Travis followed Mr. Cheek as superintendent. 
Rev. Thomas Scott was the next superintendent, and the 
school prospered under his care. His assistants were Misses 
Rittick, Louisa Wheaton, Lucy Brown and Eva Samuels, 
and others whose names cannot be ascertained. Mr. Scott's 
successor was Rev. Charles S. Fariess, who entered the 
school as a pupil in July, 1881. 



MESSIAH BAPTIST CHURCH. 481 

Mr. Fariess assumed the superintendency of the school 
at the urgent request of the friends of the church and Sun- 
day-school in January, 1882, which had at that time again 
decreased rapidly in numbers, there being then but thir- 
teen regular scholars. Under the efforts of Mr. Fariess 
and of the helpers, the school has attained to its present 
prosperous condition, its number having increased to sev- 
enty-eight pupils, as the record-book shows. 

Rev. Charles S. Fariess, for his long term of service 
in connection with this school, is among the list of honorary 
Sunday-school workers in Yonkers. 

In November, 1887, the school numbered thirty-five 
and the officers were : H. Howard, Superintendent ; Miss 
Lucy Scay, Secretary ; Matthew Davis, Librarian. There 
were nine in the infant class. 

The number who united with the church from the 
school in 1887 was four. 

The following account of the exercises of the Sunday- 
school anniversary, which was held Monday evening, May 
21, 1888, is written by William H. Duers : 

The anniversary was held in Townsend Hall. It was 
doubly interesting and important as being the work of sev- 
eral years' growth, and it being the last time that the school 
would meet there previous to the occupancy of their new 
Sunday-school room on Ashburton Place, which they hoped 
to occupy the following Sunday. 

Quite a large gathering was present at the opening 
prayer, a number having to stand. The exercises con- 
sisted of singing, recitations, and readings, which were 
carried on by the children in a very pleasant and lively 
manner. The school sang from their Sunday-school book, 
" The Fount of blessing," " Let us shine," and " Must I go 
empty-handed?" 

Henry E. Duers read an essay on the " History of the 
church and Sunday-school." 

Rev. William Smith Bass, the pastor of 1881, spoke of 
the school from his date and of the joyful change which 
was about to take place. He gave excellent advice to the 
younger scholars, and exhorted the parents to set a good 
example perpetually before their children. He also spoke 

3i 



482 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

of the advantages we were about to enjoy as a people in 
the new church. His words were very instructive and 
helpful to his audience, which showed their appreciation 
by their earnest attention. 

Charles S. Fariess, the superintendent, spoke of his seven 
years' experience in the school. He said the school had 
suffered many changes in its membership, and that in the 
present audience he could not see any one who had been 
there steadily since he had been connected with it. Sad 
was the ever-changing spectacle every year, the old famil- 
iar faces dropping out and strangers taking their places. 
" When I first came to Yonkers, though having formerly 
been a teacher, I took my place as a scholar in the class of 
a lady whom I now see before me (then Miss Eva Samuels, 
now Mrs. John Lisby). After a while I came up to the 
office that I now hold through the kindness of my friends. 
In this position I have endeavored to do my duty as well as 
I could. It makes me happy to know that a change is about 
to take place, and that we will all be very happy, and I trust 
useful, in our new Sunday-school room." 

These very enjoyable exercises were closed by a duet 
by Henry H. Duers and his son, William Duers. 

The school occupied their room in the new church 
edifice for the first time on Sunday afternoon, June 10, 1888. 
The opening exercises began by singing "Come to the 
Saviour," which was followed by the reading of the Scrip- 
ture lesson for the day, Matt. 28: 16-25, an ^ prayer by the 
assistant superintendent, Wm. Meekly. Charles S. Fariess, 
the superintendent, made a few remarks upon the subject 
of the lesson, " The Great Command : Go ye therefore and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father 
and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost," and mentioned that 
at the morning service three of the pupils and others from 
the congregation " had been buried in the likeness of Christ 
in baptism and rose to newness of life." 

The persons referred to were Mrs. Henrietta Thornton, 
Catherine Johnson, Rebecca Rose, and Mrs. Wilson, the 
former being a teacher and the latter pupils in the school, 
and those of the congregation were Mr. Qeenan and Rich- 
ard Pollard. 



MESSIAH BAPTIST CHURCH. 483 

At the close of the lesson the superintendent introduced 
Thomas H. Messer as one of their old and tried friends, 
who had assisted them so many times by his presence, in- 
structions, and gifts in their old building. 

Mr. Messer responded in brief congratulatory remarks. 
Cornelius Callahan, a Bible-class teacher in the Nepperhan 
Avenue Baptist Mission School, was called upon to make a 
few remarks, which he did in a very pleasant and interest- 
manner. 

Elder Christopher Brown, of New York, was introduced 
and made a short address. He was followed by Elmer 
L. Manning, who was the last speaker on this auspicious 
occasion. " This is a great surprise to me," said Mr. Man- 
ning. " I wonder if I am not lost ? Is this the right room 
I have gotten into, Mr. Superintendent?" 

" Yes," replied the superintendent. " You are all right. 
This is our new Sunday-school room." 

" Some one has whispered to me," continued Mr. Man- 
ning, " that James B. Colgate gave you this beautiful house 
of worship, this splendid Sunday-school room, which my 
brother has well said ' is second to none of all the Sunday- 
school rooms in Yonkers. Now Mr. Colgate is a very be- 
nevolent, a religious, a liberal and large-hearted man ; but 
in one sense he did not give you this room. Mr. Colgate's 
Heavenly Father and your Heavenly Father gave it to you. 
And why did he give you this place ? Because you have a 
soul. God's object is to save souls in giving you this house. 
He wants you to grow up strong men and women in Christ 
by the teaching you receive here. What a wonderful differ- 
ence there is between this room and the old room where 
you used to meet ! This, with its Bible-class room and all its 
appointments, is so superior. God did this for you. And 
he used his honored servant, Mr. Colgate, to give it to you. 
Your place is changed, but not your faces ; they are just 
the same as in the old place. Do you know you have re- 
newed responsibility? God will certainly expect more of 
you here than there. Be more faithful ; study your Bible 
more ; be more devoted in prayer and do better work. I 
feel confident that you will. God expects abundant fruit. 
Christ is your example. He is a loving Saviour. His life 



484 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

would have been utterly worthless if he had not risen. 
Paul is a great theologian. Hear what he says : ' If in 
this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most 
miserable.' ' If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those 
things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right 
hand of God.' Be faithful servants in God's vineyard. 
You have a great field of usefulness here. We have some- 
times heard that a second Baptist Church is wanted in 
Yonkers. This is the second Baptist Church. God bless 
you all ! God be with you !" 

A very profitable and pleasing feature of this memorable 
occasion was the recitation of Bible verses by the teachers 
and pupils. And the members of the primary department 
recited each individually. One little girl of five years 
recited clearly and readily the verse, " In my Father's house 
are many mansions," etc. 

The impressive exercises closed by the singing of 
" I am nearing the gates of the city, yon city so bright and 
so fair." 

The first Christmas festival in their new Sunday-school 
room was held December 27, 1888, when after a programme 
of singing, recitations, etc., the distribution of gifts to the 
primary class by Superintendent Fariess closed the pleas- 
ant exercises. 

The school contributed for benevolence during 1888, 
$10 50 and in 1889, $11. 

The eighty members of the school had a merry time 
at their festival on Christmas, 1889. Many of the children 
recited or sang, and there was much caroling by the school. 
Superintendent C. S. Fariess presided. Books and toys 
gladdened the young people's hearts. 

The superintendents of this school, so far as can be ascer- 
tained, in the order of service have been : Mrs. Sarah Moore, 
1873-74; R. D. Cheek, Rev. Thomas Scott, Henry Travis, 
Rev. Charles S. Fariess, elected January 1, 1882. Mr. Far- 
iess was ordained to the gospel ministry at the Messiah 
Baptist Church, April 18, 1889. Rev. Alvah S. Hobart, D. D., 
pastor of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, was the 
moderator of the council, and Rev. J. G. Shrive, clerk. The 
sermon was preached by Rev, Dr. F. R. Morse, Rev. E. T. 



MESSIAH BAPTIST CHURCH. 485 

Curtice offered the prayer of ordination, Rev A. B. Brown 
gave the hand of fellowship, and Rev. J. H. Bailey the 
charge to the candidate. On November 16, 1889, Rev. 
Charles S. Fariess was appointed by the New England 
Baptist Missionary Convention, held in New York city, 
missionary to the second district, with headquarters at 
Yonkers. 

Rev. Charles S. Fariess resigned the superintendency 
of the Sunday-school in January, 1890, and was succeeded 
by William H. Duers. 

The officers of the school are : Rev. Alexander M. Con- 
way, Superintendent ; Miss Kittie L. Mills, Assistant Su- 
perintendent ; Mrs. Wesley Allen, Secretary ; Miss Kittie 
L. Mills, Assistant Secretary ; Albert H. Roberts, Treasurer ; 
Albert Davis, Librarian ; William Mann, Assistant Libra- 
rian. 

The record-book for 1889, 90, '91, includes the follow- 
ing teachers : Miss May B. Henderson, Mrs. Eston Thorn- 
ton, Miss Julia Hill, Mr. Albert Roberts, Mr. Aaron Bolden, 
Miss Kate Mills, Miss Celia Jones, Miss Sarah White, Miss 
Gertrude Lyon, and Miss Allen. 

The primary class is taught by Mrs. Eston Thornton, 
and numbers sixteen pupils. The paper, " Our Little Ones," 
is distributed in the class every Sunday. 

The present enrolment of scholars is seventy-five ; 
average attendance fifty. The lesson helps used are from 
the American Baptist Publication Society. The singing 
books used are " The Gospel Praise Book," " Vineyard 
Songs," and " Moody and Sankey Hymns." 



486 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

CHAPTER XXII. 

THE GLENWOOD SUMMER SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

This Sunday-school was organized by Henry Stearns, 
July n, 1875, for the purpose of giving Sunday-school 
advantages to the children who resided in the upper part 
of. the town of Yonkers, and who did not attend any Sun- 
day-school. The first session of the school was held in the 
parlor of the residence of Mr. Stearns, on Glenwood Avenue 
near Warburton Avenue. Its meetings were held in the 
" Bloomer Cottage" until October of the same year, when 
Mr. Stearns removed to New York. It was then closed for 
the winter and was reopened the following summer at the 
residence of Henry Bowers, on Warburton Avenue. At Mr. 
Stearns' especial request, Mrs. Louise W. Bowers and* her 
sister Miss Kate Willard assumed the charge of it. These 
ladies took a very deep interest in this mission enterprise. 

An adult Bible-class was conducted by Wm. A. Gibson. 
Among the reports gathered of the Sunday-schools of Yon- 
kers during the centennial year, February, 1876, the follow- 
ing statistics are given of this little school : Officers, 1, teach- 
ers, 8 ; scholars on register, 65 ; average attendance, 50 ; in 
adult Bible-class, 20. The teachers are : Mrs. Henry Bow- 
ers, Mrs. Thomas Franklin, Mrs. Sophia A. Shonnard, Miss 
Kate Willard, Miss Margaret Bloomer, Messrs. Wm. A. Gib- 
son, Allen Taylor, and Richard W. Bogart. William A. 
Gibson acts in the triple capacity of superintendent, treas- 
urer, and librarian. Miss Nellie Wetmore, Miss Bowers, 
Miss Emma Utter, and John N. Stearns, Jr., also taught in 
this school during its history. The lessons taught were 
from the Old Testament history, and the hymn-book used 
was " Winnowed Songs." 

The school was undenominational in its character. The 
Rev. H. M. Sanders, the pastor of the Warburton Avenue 
Baptist Church, is recalled as taking a hearty interest in it. 
How long the school was maintained cannot be definitely 
ascertained, but probably at least three years, and was held 
only during the summer months. 



GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 487 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

This church was the outgrowth of its Sunday-school, 
which was organized in 1880. Its first religious services 
were held early in the autumn of that year, in .the hall 
occupied by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, 
in a building on South Broadway, opposite Hudson Street, 
the site of which is now occupied by the handsome station 
of the New York and Northern Railway. 

The first sermon to this society was delivered by Rev. 
John J. Messmer, of Mount Vernon, N. Y. This discourse 
was listened to by three auditors, Mr. and Mrs. Herman 
H. Kroenke and Mrs. Augusta Krah. The congregation 
worshipped in that hall for about two years, when they re- 
moved to Humboldt Hall, New Main Street, which place 
they occupied for five years, till their removal to their 
new and attractive church building, located on the corner 
of Waverly and Maple Streets, on Sunday, December n, 
1887. 

The morning service was conducted by Rev. G. Abele, 
presiding elder of the German Methodist Conference of 
New York. 

An instructive and impressive discourse was preached 
by Mr. Abele from these words : " And he was afraid, 
and said : How dreadful is this place ! This is none other 
but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." 
Gen. 28 : 17. 

The dedicatory exercises took palce at 3 : 30 P. M., and 
were conducted by Presiding Elder Abele. They com- 
menced with singing, in German, by the choir, of three 
selections from the church hymn-book, " Psalter and Harp." 

Rev. Charles E. Allison offered the dedicatory prayer, 
which was followed by the singing of " All Hail the power 
of Jesus' Name." 

Addresses were delivered by Rev. Dr. David Cole, 
Rev. Dr. George E. Strobridge, Rev. John Reid and Rev. 
Charles E. Allison. 



488 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Rev. George H. Geiger, the pastor, read the financial 
statement of the work on the new building and its cost. 
The church purchased three lots for $2,400. Rudolph 
Eickemeyer bought one lot from them to aid the enter- 
prise. Marvin R. Oakley contracted to build the church 
for $2,350, and he had contributed $200 towards the fund. 
The mason work had been done by James Scott at a cost 
°f $739 88. The amount yet to be raised was $2,700. The 
First Methodist Church of Yonkers donated their old church 
building, portions of which, the pulpit, pews, gallery, and 
altar rail, were used in the construction of their new build- 
ing. 

The exercises closed with the doxology, and a benedic- 
tion by Rev. Dr. Strobridge. 

In the evening the preaching was in German, as it 
was in the morning. Rev. H. Kastendieck, of Brooklyn, 
N. Y., delivered the sermon. 

In response to the third appeal the people subscribed 
over $300 towards the church building fund, the entire 
amount raised during the three church services being about 
$900, of which the members of the congregation contrib- 
uted $600. 

Many of the collections towards this new church enter- 
prise were made by the pastor and a few of his church 
members, gathered after many a weary day of hard work, 
much of it in small sums of five and ten cents. 

The following resolutions were unanimously passed by 
the Trustees of this church on December 14, 1887 : 

Whereas, The trustees of the German Methodist Epis- 
copal Church acknowledge the deep sympathy which the 
citzens of Yonkers manifested towards them in the work of 
erecting their church edifice ; therefore be it 

Resolved, That we extend our heartiest thanks to the 
Yonkers public for the liberal support given us in our efforts 
to secure a home in which we can worship God in our own 
tongue and lead our fellow-countrymen to the Saviour of 
men ; to the Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church of 
Yonkers for the use of their pews for five years ; to the 
Trustees of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Yon- 
kers for the gift of the church in which they worshipped 



GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 489 

for many years, the material of which was utilized in the 
erection of said German M. E. Church. 

The debt on the church property in December, 1887, 
was $1,800. Through the efforts of the congregation, who 
were assisted by a number of their friends from other 
churches in the city, among whom were several from the 
First Presbyterian Church who contributed liberally, the 
debt was paid in the spring of 1888, under the pastorate 
of Rev. George H. Geiger. His pastorate of two years was 
a very successful one in building up the church to a health- 
ful spiritual state and in improving its financial condition. 
The payment of the indebtedness was due in a great degree 
to his energy and financial skill. The present valuation of 
the church property is $7,000. 

The pastors of the church have been: Rev. John J. 
Messmer, its first pastor, 1 880-81 ; Rev. Ernest Hartmann, 
1882-83; Rev. Chas. A. Brockmeier, 1883-84; Rev. Henry 
Miller, 1885-86; Rev. George H. Geiger, 1887-89; Charles 
A. Brockmeier, 1889-90; Rev. Emil Peglow, August, 1889, 
to date. 

The late pastor, Rev. Chas. A. Brockmeier, was born 
in Hilli, county of Minden, kingdom of Prussia, Germany, 
August 28, 1827. He came to this country in 1852, studied 
for a number of years in the cities of Schenectady and 
New York, was ordained a deacon April 17, 1864, at the 
annual Conference in Newburgh, N. Y., and ordained an 
elder in Philadelphia in April, 1869. He has been a travel- 
ling preacher in the East German Conference for the last 
twenty-five years, and was sent in the spring of 1889 
from Greenfield, Mass., to the German M. E. Church of 
Yonkers. 

The church was incorporated in 1882, the first trustees 
being J. William Bauer, Henry Bauer, Herman H. Kroenke, 
Jacob Genzlinger, and Sida H. Wicht. 

The present Board of Trustees is composed of Otto 
Schulz, President ; John William Bauer, Secretary ; Charles 
Losell, Treasurer ; Rudolf Eickemeyer, Herman H. Kroenke, 
Otto Schulz, Henry Wicht, and George Aulenbacker. 

The membership of the church is fifty. 

The officers of the Ladies' Aid Society are : "Mrs. Otto 



490 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Schulz, President; Mrs. Henrietta Kroenke, Secretary; 
Mrs. Henry Wicht, treasurer. 

The first Bible was loaned to the church by Henry 
Kroenke. It was a family Bible and was returned well 
worn when the present Bible was presented by John Kopp, 
in commemoration of his wedding, 1884. Miss L. Genz- 
linger gave a handsome. Bible bookmark. 

Miss Henrietta Kroenke served as organist for seven 
years. The present organist is Miss Theresa Schulz. The 
choir consists of Mrs. Bertha Miller, Miss Henrietta Klein, 
and Miss Dena Miller, soprano ; Miss Emma Neininger 
and Miss Amelia Genzlinger, alto : Rev. Emil W. Peg- 
low and Albert Losel, tenor ; and Jacob and John Zoeller, 
bass. 

The sexton is Herman H. Kroenke, who has served 
the church in that capacity for seven years. 

SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

This Sunday-school was organized on Sunday after- 
noon, August 29, 1880, by Rev. John J. Messmer, of Mount 
Vernon, N. Y., in the hall of the Woman's Christian Tem- 
perance Union. The following persons were present be- 
sides Pastor Messmer : Herman H. Kroenke, Albert Teck- 
lenburg, John Johnson, Frank Knapper, Mrs. August 
Krah, Mrs. Dorothea Kroenke, Mrs. Dorothea Schrag, and 
Louise Krumlauf, all of whom offered their services as 
teachers. John Kopp was chosen superintendent. The 
number of scholars was four. The pastor remarked to 
these willing workers that it was rather an unusual cir- 
cumstance that a Sunday-school began with more teach- 
ers than scholars, and bade them not to be discouraged, 
that in due time their services would be required for the 
classes which were being prepared for them. His proph- 
ecy was soon fulfilled, for on the second Sunday the num- 
ber of scholars was doubled, and after that three more 
pupils were added to the school each successive Sunday 
until Christmas of 1880, when the school numbered fifty- 
two pupils. 

A few week previous to the celebration of their first 
Christmas festival one of the teachers remarked to the 



GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 49I 

superintendent, " We have the scholars, but where are the 
presents for them to come from?" The superintendent 
replied, " The Lord has given us the children, and he will 
provide the gifts needed." The faith and efforts of the 
superintendent and others, who also possessed a like faith 
and trust, were rewarded, for on the day of the celebration 
of this festival they had more gifts than were required to 
supply the children, some of them receiving two gifts and 
several three. 

The Sunday-school met in Temperance Hall for about 
two years, when they removed to Humboldt Hall, where 
they remained for five years. 

The Sunday-school during the superintendency of 
Henry Bauer, in Humboldt Hall, was in a very prosperous 
condition. It had an enrolment of one hundred pupils in 
1886, and a number were added to the church from the 
school during that year. In 1887 the school decreased con- 
siderably in its attendance. . Three pupils from the school 
united with the church during that year. 

On December 11, 1887, at 2 : 30 o'clock in the afternoon, 
the Sunday-school gathered for the first time in the new 
church. Pastor Geiger, as superintendent, gave out the 
hymn " Rock of Ages," and addresses were made by Henry 
M. Rudolph and John Kopp, of Mount Vernon, and by the 
pastor. These interesting services were closed by singing 
the hymn " O wondrous love !" 

The first Christmas festival of the school held in the 
new church was on Christmas afternoon of 1888. The ex- 
ercises consisted of carols and recitations by a number of 
the children of the school. A Christmas cantata was well 
rendered by Misses Amelia and Clara Genzlinger, Emma 
Neininger, Barbara Zoeller, Theresa Schulz, and Minnie 
Genzlinger, the latter of whom presided at the organ. 

A dialogue entitled " Our Christmas Tree," by a teach- 
er and her class of boys, was a pleasing feature of this oc- 
casion. It was followed by the carol " Christmas Offering." 

A little girl of five years, Fannie Boehmer, who recit- 
ed very sweetly, " I am little and my heart is true ; nobody 
shall live in it but Jesus alone," and the singing of the carol 
" Hosana in the Highest," followed. 



492 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The handsome transparency of a beautiful star, which 
was placed behind the pulpit on the wall, contained the 
words " The Song of the Angels," and was a marked at- 
traction of the decorations of the church on that occasion. 

The distribution of the Christmas gifts from the hand- 
somely decorated tree, by Superintendent Kroenke, closed 
the exercises. 

The annual picnic of 1888 was held on July 11. Stages 
from Getty Square conveyed the children and friends of 
the school to Coddington's farm, South Broadway. The 
number in attendance was about three hundred. The 
amount raised that year was $25. 

The Christmas festival of 1889 was held in the church 
on Christmas day. Herman Kroenke, the superintendent, 
presided. Rev. Charles Brockmeier, the pastor, made the 
opening prayer. Recitations were given by Annie Bern- 
hardt, Theresa Schulz, Barbara Zoeller, Millie Genzlinger, 
Annie Haffner, Oscar Bauer, Annie Marks, Rudolph Bauer, 
Emil Wohlfart, Henry and John Zoeller, Lena Miller, 
and Mary Bush. Charles Brockmeier, Millie Genzlinger, 
Paul Schulz, and Henrietta Kroenke sang the quartette 
" Honor to the Lord on High." iVnother quartette was sung 
by Charles Brockmeier, Paul and Theresa Schulz, and Clara 
Genzlinger. " The Christmas Tree in Heaven" was sung 
by Annie Marks. 

' Sixty-three children were made happy by Christmas 
presents. Superintendent and teachers were remembered. 
A handsome framed picture of " Christ Before Pilate" was 
presented to the pastor, and the organist, Miss Kroenke, 
received a silver watch. 

The amount given by the school for benevolent pur- 
poses in 1887 was $30; in 1888, $25 ; from January, 1 
to August, 1889, $9 91. On Children's Day in June, 1! 
the amount contributed was $5. The school contributes $100 
annually for benevolent objects. 

The Literary Society of this church and Sunday-school 
was organized by Pastor Henry Miller in 1886. The pres- 
ent officers are : Paul Schulz, President ; Miss Sophia Reitz, 
Secretary ; Charles Eberley, Treasurer. The present mem- 
bership is thirty. Meetings of the society are held monthly. 



GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 493 

On Thursday evening, March 14, 1889, that society held a 
concert for the benefit of the church. The instrumental 
music was under the direction of Miss Libbie Biggerstaff, 
Grover G. Cox, and James Pearce, M. B. The selections 
were from Schubert, Pinsuti, and Thomas. The exercises 
consisted of songs, duets, and recitations, the following per- 
sons taking part : Mrs. A. F. Barrett, Sophia Reitz, Amelia 
Genzlinger, Lillie Sclumbs, Jennie Allen, Lizzie Gorman, 
the Misses King, Austin, and Nealy, Misses Kroenke and 
Rudolph, Wm. C. Hoff, Frank Beer, Charles Eberley, Otto 
and Paul Schulz, Jacob Zoeller, and Rev. Charles E. Allison. 
The proceeds were $75. 

The primary department of the school is taught by 
Miss Henrietta Kroenke, and numbers thirty pupils, with 
an average attendance of twenty. The helps used in this 
department are the " A. B. C. Reading Lessons " and " Scrip- 
ture Charts." 

The enrolment of scholars in August, 1889, was 135, 
with an average attendance of 90. 

Herman H. Kroenke, of this school, is on the honorary 
list of Sunday-school workers in Yonkers. 

The Sunday-school help is " Der Bibelforscher," or 
" Bible Teacher." The singing book is the " Psalter and 
Harp." The paper distributed is " Die Glocke." 

Teachers' meetings are held monthly. Number of 
books in the library, 156. 

The following persons, in the order of their service, 
have filled the office of superintendent of the school since 
its organization : John Kopp, Herman H. Kroenke, Henry 
Bauer, Otto Schulz, Rev. George H. Geiger, and Herman H. 
Kroenke, the last being elected January, 1888. 

The present officers of the school are : Herman H. 
Kroenke, Superintendent ; Otto Schulz, Vice-Superintend- 
ent ; Franz Koenig, Secretary ; Henrietta Kroenke, Treas- 
urer ; Paul Schulz, Librarian. 

The teachers are Rev. Emil Peglow, adult Bible-class, 
Mrs. Catherine Wohlfarts, Mrs. H. H. Kroenke, Mrs. Losell, 
Miss Mina Haas, Miss Minnie Genzlinger, Miss Clara Genz- 
linger, William Bauer, Mr. Losell, Mr. Foeller, and Miss 
Henrietta Kroenke, teacher of the primary department. 



494 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

THE LUDLOW STREET REFORMED CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The chapel building is located on Ludlow Street. It 
was erected in the autumn of 1884, principally through 
the enterprise and liberality of George Stewart, an elder in 
the Reformed Church. Others connected with this church 
also aided him in this new mission enterprise by their 
efforts and gifts. 

The building is a neat wooden structure of Gothic 
architecture, 34 by 60 feet, with an extension at the rear, 
and the plot of ground upon which it stands is 75 by 100. 
It has two front entrances between which is an arched 
stained glass window, under which are three small stained 
glass windows. There is also an entrance at the west side 
of the building. 

The interior is finished in yellow pine. On the wall 
behind the pulpit is inscribed the Scripture text, " The 
entrance of thy word giveth light." On the wall to the left 
pi the pulpit are inscribed the Commandments, while on 
the right hand side appear the Lord's Prayer and the Apos- 
tles' Creed. 

At the right and left hand sides of the pulpit are the 
library and infant-class rooms. The audience-room is fur- 
nished with reversible seats. 

The value of the property is $10,000. 

The dedicatory exercises of the chapel took place on 
Sunday afternoon, November 9, 1884. They were con- 
ducted by Rev. Dr. David Cole, who preached the dedica- 
tory sermon from Genesis 28 : 17 : " This is none other but 
the house of 'God." Rev. William Anderson, of Fordham, 
Rev. Dr. Henry M. Baird, and Prof. Isaac S. Davison, of 
Yonkers, took part in the exercises. A collection was 
taken and subscriptions were received in aid of the chapel 
building fund. 

The Consistorial chapel committee were George Stew- 



LUDLOW STREET REFORMED CHAPEL. 



495 



art, Virgil Myers, Hyatt L. Garrison, Isaac N. Cook, and 
Walter A. Drinkwater. 

On the day of dedication $250 was given by friends of 
the mission. An organ was also presented. The pulpit 
Bible was also given on that occasion by Mrs. James W. 
Beebe. 

When the chapel was dedicated there was a debt of 
$3,000 on it : this still remains. 




THE LUDLOW STREET REFORMED CHAPEE. 



A Sunday-school was opened in the chapel at 2 : 30 P. M. 
on Sunday, November 16, 1884, its organization and direction 



496 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

being under the control of the Consistory of the Reformed 
Church. The following were elected as the officers of the 
school at its % first session : George Stewart, Superintend- 
ent ; Virgil Myers, Assistant Superintendent ; Walter A. 
Drinkwater, Secretary ; Frank H. Cole, Librarian ; Joseph 
Hover and Belding A. Hoyt, Assistant Librarians ; Le Grand 
W. Ketcham, Treasurer. 

These persons offered their services as teachers : Misses 
Lillian Dealing, Dora L. Costello, Emma L. Crane, Ada 
E. Thompkins, Mary E. Berston, Jennie Edgar, Jacob D. 
Wood, and Virgil Myers. 

Forty children were present at its first session. 

Miss Agnes E. Edgar, Miss Ray A. Campbell and Miss 
Sarah J. Beebe were subsequently added to the list of teach- 
ers. Among these early teachers, the last was the first who 
was called from her earthly work to her heavenly reward. 
The following extract is from a tribute to her memory 
which- appeared in the " Christian Intelligencer," written 
by her pastor, Rev. Dr. David Cole : 

" Miss Beebe was by nature, character, and culture such 
an ornament to her home, and so fitted and willing to be 
useful in her church and general sphere, that her removal 
in the prime of life is felt by her mother and her pastor 
and friends to be a severe stroke. Having accepted her 
Saviour when very young, with clear intelligence and with- 
out any reserve, her Christian life throughout was one of 
ever-growing strength and consecration. She was a faithful 
and exceedingly useful member of the Ladies' Missionary 
Society of her church, kept herself acquainted with mis- 
sionary work at home and abroad, and gave life to meet- 
ings by her contributions and suggestions. And she loved 
to render any service in her power in any department of 
church or Sunday-school work." 

Sunday, October 29, 1887, was a marked occasion for the 
members and friends of the school, as they welcomed the 
return of their pastor from a recent European trip. The 
exercises were opened by singing the hymn " Jesus High 
in Glory." The Superintendent — George Stewart — then 
read the Scripture lesson, during the reading of which Dr. 
Cole entered the room, whereupon the teachers and scholars 



LUDLOW STREET REFORMED CHAPEL. 497 

rose and remained standing as he passed up the aisle to the 
Superintendent's desk. Dr. Cole thanked them heartily 
for their kind greeting. 

At the Christmas festival, December 30, 1887, the chapel 
was filled with the pupils and friends of the school. Special 
presents were given to the thirteen pupils who had been 
present at every session during the year. Dr. Cole gave 
an interesting account of the work already done. 

Sunday, May, 20, 1888, was an interesting day in the 
Reformed Church and its Sunday-school, it being the last 
Sunday before the departure of the pastor and George 
Stewart, the Superintendent of the primary department 
of the home school, who had been appointed delegates 
by the General Synod of the Reformed Church in Amer- 
ica to the Alliance of the Reformed Churches holding the 
Presbyterian system, also delegates to the World's Mis- 
sionary Conference, by the Reformed Church Board of 
Missions. Both of these great convocations were held in 
Exeter Hall, London, the former June 9 to 19, the latter 
July 3 to 12. 

The exercises began by singing " Jesus, Lover of my 
soul," the recitation of the Commandments, the Beatitudes, 
and the twenty-third Psalm in concert. 

Dr. Cole asked the children to join their hands and 
bow with him in asking that God would protect and watch 
over the school during the absence of its Superintendent, 
and for the care of the travellers when on the ocean and 
while travelling in foreign lands. 

Superintendent Stewart said: "I begin to think, children 
what a good thing it is to go away from home, for this rea- 
son : we receive so many kind expressions and good words 
from our friends. Ever since I have thought of going away 
I have heard these words, ' I do not know how we are going 
to do without you,' ' I shall miss you.' Up at the church 
they have told me this ; my brother in his business has 
said this. And so it has been all along up to this moment. 
And, dear children, I want it to be so. That is just the 
way I want to live, so after I am gone I shall be missed. 
I do not speak these words from personal pride. I desire 
to be useful, and to do my Master's work. And now good- 

Church and Sunday-school Work. "2 2 



49$ CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

by. I know God will watch over you and take care of you 
while we are absent from you." 

The school joined in singing, heartily and spiritedly, 
under the direction of their leader and organist, Bethune 
Reevs : 

" Would you gain the best in life, 
Win the prize 'mid all the strife ?" 

The usual quietness and serenity of Ludlow Street was 
agreeably interrupted on Monday evening, July 30, 1888, the 
occasion being a reception given by the Sunday-school of 
the Ludlow Street Church to the Superintendent, George 
Stewart, and the pastor, Rev. Dr. Cole, on their return from 
Europe. Walter A. Drinkwater, Secretary and Treasurer, 
presided. Dr. Cole offered prayer and the exercises pro- 
ceeded according to programme. 

A " Welcome to Our Pastor and Superintendent," 
written by Mrs. Corbett, was delivered by Miss Nesbit ; 
Messrs. Reevs and Dick played " Larboard Watch" as a 
piano trio ; the Misses Costello sang " Gently Sighs the 
Breeze;" the, Chapel Quartette (composed of Misses Cos- 
tello and Nealy and Messrs. Reevs and See) sang " Mem- 
ories ;" eight children of the Sunday-school were heard 
in a " Welcome Song," words by Mrs. Corbett ; the exercises 
closed with the quartette singing, " Oh, be thou faithful." 

A few remarks by Dr. Cole were requested, and they 
were cheerfully given. Superintendent Stewart was then 
sought and found. He remarked that he preferred to re- 
main as a spectator and to take the part in silence ; but 
he was brought to the front, and made an excellent prac- 
tical address, admirably suited to the event. 

After prayer by Rev. J. Hendrik de Vries, assistant 
pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, the whole party 
were invited to seats at tables spread on the lawn, where 
ice-cream and cake were served. 

The exercises of the Christmas festival for 1888 began 
with a voluntary by Messrs. Reevs and Steadman on the 
piano and violin, followed with prayer by Rev. Dr. Cole. 
The singing of the " Happy Christmas Bells " by the 
school was succeeded by responsive Bible-reading, and 
recitations were given by Ethel Wisedell, Miss Bunetta Gil- 



LUDLOW STREET REFORMED CHAPEL. 499 

bert. Charles A. Hoyt, May Christian, Hattie Walsh, and 
Gracie Jones. Perhaps the most interesting part of the pro- 
gramme was the distribution of Christmas presents by Santa 
Claus. Sixteen prize books were given to the scholars for 
punctual attendance during the year, and Rev. Dr. Cole, on 
behalf of the teachers, presented to George Stewart, the 
Superintendent, a handsomely framed photograph of the 
Ludlow Street Chapel, with a group of its officers and 
teachers. 

Children's Day was celebrated June 17, 1889. An at- 
tractive feature of the occasion was the missionary recita- 
tion entitled " The Mystic Cable," spoken by twelve little 
girls, who represented, respectively, " Heathendom," 
"Christendom," " Wisdom," " Unity," " Effort," "Wealth," 
" Sacrifice," " Bible," " Prayer," " Faith," " Grace," and 
" Missions." Each girl, after reciting a verse in turn, clasp- 
ed hands with the next, and so, successively, a chain was 
formed, the right end of which was held by the little girl 
representing " Christendom," who stood leaning against a 
large floral cross on the platform. At the left end of the 
platform stood a little girl who held a black banner repre- 
senting " Heathendom." As the chain was completed she 
dropped the banner, thus showing the dispersion of the 
darkness at the entrance of Christianity. The dialogue 
was designed to show how the "mighty cable" " Christen- 
dom" may send "the glad message" to the dwellers in 
darkness. 

An interesting exercise of the primary department 
was the recitation " Word Building," under the direction 
of Miss Dora L. Costello, which consisted of the arrange- 
ment of lettered blocks, which, when placed in proper order 
by the children, formed the sentence " Suffer little chil- 
dren to come unto me," and the singing of the carol, " The 
little birds filled the air with glee," with other pleasing 
recitations by the members of the department, followed. 

In response to the names of the various classes which 
were called by the secretary, Alden C. Tompkins, a child 
from each class presented its offerings, some of which were 
placed in the centre of small baskets of flowers. The offer- 
ings were given to the cause of missions, and the flowers 



500 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

which decorated the platform were distributed among the 
sick. 

Rev. Dr. Cole made a short address appropriate to the 
hour, after which the carol, " Praise the Lord for child- 
hood days," was sung and the audience dismissed. 

Union services were held regularly on Sunday after- 
noons, conducted in turn by clergymen of the different 
denominations in Yonkers. This movement was begun 
very promisingly on Sunday, January 18, 1889.* 

The primary department of the school was formed 
from a small class taught by Miss Dora L. Costello at the 
opening of the school. She has had charge of it ever since, 
having no assistant. The lessons taught are the Interna- 
tional Sunday-school Series. The catechism is also taught. 
Miss Costello is very enthusiastic and very successful in 
her work, and the department under her efficient manage- 
ment has increased to thirty-five pupils, with an average 
attendance of twenty-five. The attendance of the class is 
increasing, and very soon a larger room will become neces- 
sary. 

The officers of the school are George Stewart, Superin- 
tendent ; Virgil Myers, Assistant Superintendent ; Edwin 
C. Stewart, Librarian ; Bethune M. Reevs, Music Director ; 
Alden B. Tompkins, Secretary and Treasurer. The teach- 
ers are : Mrs. Nesbit, Mrs. Flansburgh, Mrs. E. T. Corbett, 
Misses Edith A. Doren, Lillian Dealing, Sarah Geagen, 
Nettie Moir, Edith Hamblet, Bernetta Van Wagenen, An- 
nie A. Christian and Dora L. Costello, Messrs. H. Miller, 
A. B. Hoyt, John G. Reevs, Virgil Myers, and Christian F. 
Tietjen. 

The school has had but one superintendent, George 
Stewart, whose work has been characterized with singular 

* The Rev. Robert White preached in this chapel regularly on Sunday 
afternoons about eighteen months. He was succeeded by the Rev. W. 
Armitage Beardslee, a graduate of the Theological Seminary at New 
Brunswick, N. J. 

The Rev. Mr. Beardslee is also assistant to the pastor of the Reformed 
Church, and preached his first sermon under his engagement as assistant 
to the Rev. Dr. David Cole, in the Reformed Church, on Sunday evening, 
October 14, 1891, from the text in Matthew 17:25, "What thinkest thou, 
Simon?" 



LUDLOW STREET REFORMED CHAPEL. 501 

energy and rare devotedness. He holds a large place in 
the affections of the teachers and children whom he delights 
to serve. The school under his leadership has prospered 
temporally and spiritually. Mr. Stewart is on the honor 
roll of Yonkers Sunday-school teachers. The accessions 
from this and the home school to the communion of the 
Reformed Church in 1887 were thirty-two, and in 1888 
from* this school seven. 

Walter A. Drinkwater, the first secretary of the school, 
filled the place with devotedness and rare efficiency. His 
resignation, in May, 1889, was reluctantly accepted. He 
was succeeded by Alden C. Tompkins, the present secre- 
tary, who is serving with great acceptableness. 

In December, 1887, through the efforts of R. J. Dick, 
the librarian, the library received a valuable addition of 
books. The present number of books is 230. 

The present number of scholars, May, 1 891, is one hun- 
dred and fifty. 

There was contributed January i, 1888, $51 3 2 f° r tne 
expenses of the school, and $22 for missions. 

The singing book used is "Spiritual Songs." The 
lesson helps are obtained from the International Lesson 
Quarterly. 



502 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

IMMANUEL CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

This Sunday-school is the history of the day of small 
things, and was started under the auspices of the " Ladies' 
Missionary Association of the First Presbyterian Church of 
Yonkers." The establishment of a mothers' meeting by. 
Mrs. G. B. Balch, in the house of Mrs. Mary E. Myers, No. 6 
Moquette Row, near the Moquette Mills, Nepperhan Ave- 
nue, was an important aid to this mission enterprise. 

The Sunday-school was opened in this house on the 
afternoon of January 6, 1885, with three teachers— Miss 
Mary Randolph, Miss F. D. Baird, and Miss J. W. Flagg, 
and twelve scholars. Wells Olmsted was chosen superin- 
tendent. In February Miss Mary Ewing and Miss Julia 
F. Baird joined them in the work. 

The second year of the school's life was one of con- 
tinued encouragement and uninterrupted progress, and a 
third room was hired in Moquette Row to accommodate the 
rapidly increasing attendance. 

It soon became evident that something must be done 
to increase still further the facilities of accommodation or 
the work would be greatly retarded. The difficulties and 
discouragements can only be realized by the laborers in 
the crowded rooms. It was no light task to teach a class 
of infant scholars in a small kitchen where the stove ne^ 
cessarily occupied a large part of the room. It is darkest 
just before the dawn. The needs of the work aroused an 
increased interest among the congregation of the First 
Presbyterian Church. 

The following is the report of Rev. John Reid of the 
school to the Westchester Presbytery, April, 1886: Num- 
ber of officers, two ; teachers, three ; scholars, fifty-five ; 
average attendance, forty ; attendance of the school at 
church services, forty; number of scholars received into 



IMMANUEL CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 503 

the communion of the First Presbyterian Church on pro- 
fession of their faith, ten. 

During Easter week, 1886, the teachers, with the val- 
uable assistance of Mrs. Charles Waring (now Mrs. E. M. 
Hermance) arranged a cake sale and concert, the proceeds 
of which were $150. This proved a ' ' nest egg ' ' for the build- 
ing fund of Immanuel Chapel. A fair was also held June 
12, 1886, in the house of Mrs. J. C. Havemeyer. This was 
given by several of the classes of the Sunday-school con- 
nected with the First Presbyterian Church. Another fair 
was held at the residence of G. Livingston Morse, which 
was given by his children, and realized $9 87. 

A tent sale on the Peabody House grounds, North 
Broadway, was given, the proceeds of which amounted to 
$500, and a musicale was held at " Hillcrest," the residence 
of Mrs. W. W. Law, Palisade Avenue, in October, the pro- 
ceeds of which — $300 — were donated towards the building 
fund. 

The members of the congregation of the First Presby- 
terian Church became deeply interested in this new mission 
enterprise, and subscription books were circulated through 
the church and the people very generously responded. 
Messrs. Theodore Gilman and W. W. Law did much to 
hasten the progress of the work of the erection of the 
chapel, both by their liberal gifts and kindly interest. 

In October, 1886, a request from his congregation was 
sent to Rev. John Reid, asking him to deliver a lecture on 
his late travels in Russia, the proceeds of which might be 
devoted to the building fund of the mission, to which Mr. 
Reid very cordially responded. The proceeds of the lecture 
amounted to $165. 

The Missionary Association of the First Presbyterian 
Church assumed the charge and care of the " Moquette" 
Mission now named "Immanuel," in 1886. The Associa- 
tion purchased a plot of ground, 75 by 100, on Nepperhan 
Avenue, near Ashburton, in the spring of 1887, and began 
the erection of a suitable chapel which would meet all the 
requirements of the work of the Sunday-school and the 
meetings of the mission. 

The chapel building is of Queen Anne style, 26 by 46 



504 



CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 



feet in dimensions. The main room is about 20 by 36 
feet, and the infant-class room 18 feet square. There are 
two Bible-class rooms, 10 by 15 feet, and a library room of 
the same size. The infant-class room and the main hall 
are divided by four long sliding doors. The floors are 
of oiled Georgia pine. The walls are sand finished and 
decorated, the main room being Pompeii red and the rest 
of the rooms of olive hue. On the southern exposure of the 
building is a window in commemoration of a pleasing event. 
On the twenty-first anniversary of his coming to Yonkers, 
William Allen Butler added to his subscription already 




IMMANUEL CHAPEL. 



made a gift which has been embodied in five windows, of 
mottled and marbled glass, surmounted by a spreading oak, 
under which is the benediction, " God's peace be with you, 
one and all." These beautiful windows were constructed 
by the Tiffany Glass Company of New York. The remain- 
der of the windows are of rolled cathedral glass, Queen Anne 
style. J. C. Cady & Co., of New York, were the architects ; 
E. K. Baldwin, mason; Isaac Van Steenbergh, carpenter; 
and Thomas M. Lyall, painter. The cost of the building 
and grounds was $5,300. 



IMMANUEL CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 505 

The dedicatory exercises of the chapel took place on 
Sunday afternoon, March 13, 1887. The building was 
crowded to its utmost capacity, some being turned away 
for want of room. The divine blessing was invoked by 
Rev. Prof. H. M. Baird, D. D. After singing, the Scriptures 
were read by Rev. I. Davison, when the pastor offered the 
prayer of dedication. Addresses were delivered by Theo- 
dore Gilman, chairman of the building committee, Rev. 
Charles E. Allison, Rev. Edward C. Moore, and William 
Allen Butler. Rev. John Reid conducted the exercises. 

Sunday evening meetings were conducted in Moquette 
Row by Rev. John Reid, the pastor of the First Presby- 
terian Church, for several months previous to the engage- 
ment of a stated missionary pastor. The Sunday-school 
was transferred to the chapel in March, 1887. 

The officers of the school, June, 1888, were: Wells Olm- 
sted, Superintendent ; Miss Janet Flagg, Infant Class Teach- 
er; Schuyler Bogart, Secretary and Treasurer; Howard 
Chamberlain, Librarian ; Victor M. Elting, Assistant Libra- 
rian. 

The teachers were : Miss Margaret B. Otis, Miss Mar- 
garet C. Butler, Miss Fermine D. Baird, Miss Ella R. King, 
Miss Mary Ewing, Miss Anna W. Kirkwood, Miss Janet 
W. Flagg, Miss E. P. Flagg, Miss Mary Randolph, Miss 
Carrie A. Law, Miss Julia F. Baird, Miss Deyo, Mrs. H. C. 
Balch, Miss H. E. Balch, Messrs. A. O. Kirkwood and John 
P. Brown. 

In January, 1887, the services of William T. Gouch were 
secured as cornetist to assist in the service in the Sunday- 
school and the evening church service. Mr. Gouch served 
very acceptably in this capacity for eighteen months. 

The services of Rev. John S. Penman, a student of the 
Union Theological Seminary in New York, were engaged 
in May, 1887. Prior to Mr. Penman's engagement, students 
came at different times from the Seminary in New York 
and conducted Sunday evening meetings in Moquette Row 
and in the chapel. 

Rev. Mr. Penman was ordained in the First Presby- 
terian Church, June 29, 1887. 

A strawberry and ice-cream festival was given to the 



506 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

children of the Sunday-school on the grounds of Mrs. Ethan 
Flagg in June, 1887. The first Christmas exercises in the 
new chapel were held on Saturday evening, December 25, 
1 887. There were singing of Christmas carols by the chil- 
dren, addresses by Rev. John Reid and Rev. J. S. Penman, 
followed by the distribution of gifts. The religious ex- 
ercises were held on Sunday afternoon in the First Pres- 
byterian Church, in connection with the Sunday-school of 
that church. 

A very pleasant literary and musical entertainment was 
held in the chapel on the evening of November 10, 1887, 
the proceeds, $55 25, being for the benefit of the Young 
Men's Reading-Room of the chapel. 

The communion service at the First Presbyterian 
Church, Sunday, January, 27, 1888, was deeply impressive. 
There were on that occasion received into the church fel- 
lowship thirty-two persons. Twenty-six of these came on 
profession and six by certificate. Of the former eight re- 
ceived baptism. The coming in of many of these was the 
result of patient and faithful Sunday-school and ministerial 
labor in connection with Immanuel Chapel, where services 
have been conducted by the pastor, Rev. John Reid, his 
assistant, Rev. John' S. Penman, Rev. Dr. David Cole, and 
Rev. Dr. George E. Strobridge. In an especial degree it 
resulted from the efforts made for many months in con- 
nection with the mothers' meetings held there under the 
Ladies' Association and aided by their devoted lady mis- 
sionary, Mrs. Balch. There were received into the commu- 
nion of the church from January, 1888, to September, 1888, 
eighteen scholars. 

In January the attendance of the school had reached 
164, with an enrolment of 225, together with twenty officers 
and teachers. In the meantime the school had been thor- 
oughly furnished with record books, papers, and other 
Sunday-school appointments. Through the kindness of 
William F. Cochran a carefully prepared library was placed 
at the disposal of the scholars. 

In February, 1888, another entertainment for the ben- 
efit of the Young Men's Reading-Room was held, which 
netted $46, and was given to the chapel fund. 



IMMANUEL CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 507 

Rev. John S. Penman, whose labors were most success- 
ful in connection with the work of Immanuel Chapel since 
January 1, 1887, received and accepted a call to the pastor- 
ate of the First Presbyterian Church, Irvington-on-the-Hud- 
son, December 16, 1888, and was installed pastor of that 
church May 29, 1889. He was succeeded by Rev. J. Hen- 
drik de Vries, A. M., who was ordained to the gospel min- 
istry in the First Presbyterian Church, June 19, 1888. The 
ordination sermon was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Mabon. 
The charge to the candidate was given by his brother, Rev. 
Henry de Vries. Prayer of ordination by the Rev. Dr. Reid. 
Rev. J. Hendrik de Vries, A. M., youngest son of Hendrik 
de Vries and Wilhelmina Louise Diephuizen, who was 
born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, May 8, 1859, was grad- 
uated from Rutgers College, New Brunswick, N. J., in June, 
1 88 1, and after spending the succeeding years as teacher 
in classics and music, took his master degree in 1885. In 
the fall of 1885 he entered the Theological Seminary of 
the Reformed Church in America, and upon graduation in 
May, 1888, he accepted the call as assistant to the Rev. John 
Reid, D. D., pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Yon- 
kers; in April, 1 891, he was elected Moderator of the Pres- 
bytery of Westchester, and at the fall session of Presby- 
tery, October 18, 1891, was appointed Commissioner to 
Synod for two years. 

In January, 1889, Samuel Archer, who had served as 
Treasurer of the collections of the chapel from June 18, 1887, 
resigned, and Wm, House was appointed and served for a 
brief period. The present Treasurer, Charles Hitzelberger, 
was elected September 1, 1889. 

Clarence Tice is the present Secretary. 

In June, 1888, another strawberry festival was held on 
the Peabody grounds, North Broadway. A pleasant feature 
of this occasion was the photographing of the teachers 
and scholars of the school in separate groups, by George 
D. Mackay. 

A large congregation assembled in the P r irst Presby- 
terian Church on Sunday morning, June 2, 1889. The 
pastor, Rev. Dr. John Reid, was assisted by Rev. J. Hen- 
drik de Vries, of Immanuel Chapel, and the services bore 



508 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

chiefly upon that missionary branch of the church. The 
sermon by Rev. Dr. Reid was appropriate and telling. 
It was based on the words in Ecclesiastes 4 : 9 — " Two are 
better than one, because they have a good reward for their 
labor." The encouraging report of the chapel work for the 
past year, by Mr. de Vries, was listened to with great interest. 

The report for the year ending May 31, 1889, reads : 

" Regular preaching services have been held on the 
evening of every Lord's day, with a growing attendance, 
the average from ninety to one hundred and twenty, the 
largest attendance being one hundred and fifty-three. The 
evening service has been prefaced during the winter months 
by a thirty-minutes' service of song and prayer led by gen- 
tlemen of the Session and church. 

"The Sunday-school has been held every Sunday 
afternoon, and shows encouraging signs not only of life but 
healthful growth. Owing to the faithful labors and patience 
of superintendent and teachers, the school now numbers 
from one hundred and eighty to two hundred in attendance, 
many of whom have made profession of their faith in Jesus 
as their Saviour. 

" A few words in grateful remembrance of a teacher, 
Miss Anna W. Kirkwood, who began the year with us, but 
whose abundantly useful earthly life ended and the heav- 
enly life entered upon April 24, 1889, where a grander field 
was opened before her, giving full scope for the develop- 
ment of all her powers and the exercise of all her best and 
noblest affections. From nearly the beginning of Sunday- 
school work in connection with Immanuel Chapel she 
was identified with it, and the voluntary expressions of 
feeling from her class of boys help to tell the story of 
our loss. 

"A prayer - meeting has been held every Tuesday 
evening of the year, and the deepening interest in these 
has been evinced by a faithful attendance of from fifty as 
the minimum to eighty-five and ninety-nine. 

" In October a Thursday night Bible-class for men was 
started, the membership of which soon reached the num- 
ber of eighteen, with a regular attendance of from ten to 
fourteen. Bible study was the main object of these gather- 



IMMANUEL CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 509 

ings of men, while efforts were also crowned with some 
measure of success in training the members to take part 
in prayer. 

" On Wednesday afternoon at 2 : 30 o'clock the ' Help- 
ing Hand' has regularly convened during the winter 
months, having a membership of sixty-four women and 
sixteen teachers. Two hundred and seventy-five garments 
have been made this season and the Dorcas class earned 
over $33 by other voluntary labor. 

" At 4 : 30 P. M. the mothers' meeting, now in its fifth 
year, has been attended fully by 200 women, mostly mo- 
thers, as the name implies. 

"A series of Friday evening entertainments have been 
given successfully, George D. Mackay, Ralph E. Prime, 
Col. William L. Heermance, and Dr. Robert N. Flagg 
contributing to the entertainment of those who attended. 
Careful visitation has been continued in the homes of those 
concerned with chapel interests. Measures have been 
adopted which have aroused interest in the direction of a 
personal effort on the part of those who worship in the 
chapel to provide for some portion of the expenses them- 
selves. 

"By an entertainment on April 9, which netted $79, 
together with a $25 contribution, the King's Daughters 
have procured a 250-pound bell, and the men, by the per- 
sonal contributions of money and manual labor, have made 
excellent improvements in and around the buildings, this 
work showing their grateful appreciation of the benefits 
the church has conferred upon them by erecting and sup- 
porting so generously the chapel in their midst. 

"After the report was read, Dr. Reid made a brief 
appeal, asking for $1,200 to carry on the work for the en- 
suing year. The people have always felt the warmest in- 
terest in their chapel work, and at once an amount was 
contributed to carry it successfully on." 

Children's Day — June 9, 1889 — was celebrated by a 
union service in connection with the home school, which 
was held in the First Presbyterian Church on the morning 
of that day at 1 1 o'clock. The superintendents of both home 
and mission schools, George H. Chamberlin and Wells 



5IO CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Olmsted, were installed in accordance with a new ritual 
recommended by Sunday-school workers and approved by 
the Presbyterian Church. 

In October, 1889, an entertainment was given through 
the efforts of a blind girl, Miss Sophia Hitzelberger, the 
proceeds of which were devoted to the purchasing of a 
carpet for the chapel. 

The Young Men's Immanuel Pioneer Society was or- 
ganized August, 1889, to aid the chapel. 

There was a very large attendance at Immanuel Chapel 
on Thursday night, September 27, 1890, the principal fea- 
ture being the presentation of a piano and an organ to the 
Church by the Immanuel Pioneer Society. The chapel 
was very prettily decorated with flags and flowers. Rev. 
Dr. John Reid presided and made the presentation speech. 

The organ was made by Story & Clark, and the piano 
is a Mathushek instrument. 

The officers are Charles Hitzelberger, President ; Thom- 
as Spink, Vice - President ; David W. Magee, Secretary ; 
Harry B. Tice, Treasurer; Clarence L. Tice, Manager; 
Oliver Inson, Joseph Tidaback, Fred Nodine, and William 
Mackey. 

Easter Sunday, April 7, 1890, immediately after the 
Sunday-school service, seventeen children were offered in 
baptism. Rev. J. H. de Vries, the pastor, officiated. A 
new oak font, given to the chapel by the King's Daughters, 
was used on the occasion. The font is inscribed with the 
words, " One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism," and is sur- 
mounted by the King's Daughters' cross, bearing the letters 
I. H. N. — " In His Name." The chapel clock was pre- 
sented by the King's Daughters, and the communion table 
also. This organization is under the direction of Miss 
Mary Randolph. 

Miss Janet Flagg was the first teacher of the primary 
department, and continued her acceptable work until the 
spring of 1888, when she was succeeded for a brief period 
by Mrs. H. C. Balch, followed by George D. Mackay, Miss 
Georgiana R. Law, Miss F. L. Upham. 

The present superintendent is Miss Hattie B. Blake, 
and Miss Margie Brendlinger, assistant. The International 



IMMANUEL CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 5 1 1 

Lessons are taught with pictures and Scripture illustrations. 
The collections of the class are given to the general fund 
of the school. The " Little Folks' Paper " is circulated. 
The class numbers sixty-five. 

Large adult Bible-classes of women are in charge of 
Miss Mary Randolph and George D. Mackay. These 
teachers have been earnest and successful in their labors, 
which have appeared in the additions to the communion of 
the First Presbyterian Church from their classes. 

Alexander O. Kirk wood has charge of the men's Bible- 
class. 

The scholars of the Immanuel Chapel Sunday-school 
were made happy on Saturday evening, December 28, 1889, 
at their Christmas festival. The exercises consisted of 
caroling by the school and addresses by the Rev. Dr. John 
Reid, Rev. John S. Penman, of Irvington, and Rev. Hen- 
drik de Vries. Wells Olmsted, the Superintendent, presid- 
ed. There was a handsome Christmas-tree. The gifts con- 
sisted principally of baskets of confectionery. 

Immanuel Chapel was crowded with merry children and 
visitors on Saturday evening, December, 2j, 1 890, when the 
Sunday-school festival was held. The room was decorated 
with greens, and on the wall was the greeting, Merry Christ- 
mas ! A large tree was laden with candies, dolls, toys, etc. 

Wells Olmsted, the superintendent, presided. After a 
carol by the school, Miss Oxholm presiding at the piano, 
prayer was off ered by the pastor, Rev. J. Hendrik de Vries. 
A recitation, " The Night Before Christmas," was well 
given by Mrs. J. Lindsay Porteous. The Rev. Edwin A. 
Schell, pastor of the First Methodist Church, addressed the 
school, and Robert O. Kirkwood played the role of St. 
Nicholas, giving much pleasure to the children with his 
stories and gifts. 

The presents consisted of knives, mufflers, and sleds, 
for the boys; books, dolls, cups and saucers, and pretty 
vases, for the girls. Rev. Mr. de Vries received a hand- 
some set of books, nine volumes, works of Motley, the his- 
torian. 

The amount raised annually by the Sunday-school for 
benevolent purposes is $125. 



512 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

The school has recently undertaken the support of a 
pupil in the orphanage under the care of the Rev. B. C. 
Henry, Canton, China, in memory of a lately deceased 
teacher bearing her name, Anna W. Kirkwood. 

The school has had but one superintendent, Wells 
Olmsted, who was elected in January, 1885. Mr. Olmsted 
has filled his position with marked fidelity and has won the 
esteem and regard of his co-laborers by his unceasing efforts 
to advance the best interests of the school. He is on the 
honor roll of Sunday-school workers in Yonkers. 

The present officers of the school are : Wells Olmsted, 
Superintendent; Robert Ogilvie Kirkwood (elected 1891), 
Vice - Superintendent, Theodore Oxholm, Secretary and 
Treasurer; John E. Jardine, Librarian. 

The school record-book includes the following teach- 
ers for 1889, 90, 91 : Miss Mary Randolph, Miss Fannie 
L. Upham, Miss Georgiana R. Law (now the wife of Rev. 
John Penman), Miss Harriet Oxholm, Miss E. P. Flagg, 
Miss Jessie Heermance, Miss Ella R. King, Miss Bessie 
May Otis, Miss Van Orden, Miss Crane, Mrs. Johnson, 
Miss L. Birch, Miss A. Lee, Miss Goodrich, Miss Heer- 
mance, Miss Janet W. Flagg, Miss M. Balch, Rev. J. H. 
de Vries, Prof. E. B. Fancher, George D. Mackay, T. L. 
Ellenthorpe, Alexander O. Kirkwood, John P. Brown, John 
G. Reevs, Henry A. Blake, James P'ancher, Edward R. 
McLaury, Thomas W- Moore, and Robert O. Kirkwood. 
The teachers of the primary department are Miss Harriet 
B. Blake, Superintendent, Miss Margie Brendlinger, Assist- 
ant Superintendent. 

The number of books in the library is 248. The lesson 
helps are Peloubet's graded question books and quarterlies 
and the " Sunday-school Times." The singing book is 
" Gospel Songs." 

The membership of the school is 225. The organist 
of the Sunday-school is Miss Harriet Oxholm. The singing 
in the chapel services is led by Rev. J. Hendrik de Vries, 
who is assisted by Misses Lottie Mason, Lizzie Wilson, and 
Eliza Dunn. Miss Addie Swan is the organist, who has 
very faithfully and efficiently occupied that place since 
March, 1887. 



IMMANUEL CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 513 

Thomas A. Spink served faithfully as sexton of Im- 
manuel Chapel from January, 1888, till January, 1891. He 
was succeeded by William Doyle. Through the faithful min- 
istrations of those who have been active in the work of 
Immanuel Chapel, 108 persons have been received into 
the First Presbyterian Church. 

The work of Rev. Mr. de Vries in connection with the 
chapel has met with marked success. The steadiness of 
its growth and the warm attachment of his people for him 
all go to prove the superior character of his service. Fifty- 
six persons have been received into the communion of the 
First Presbyterian Church as the result of his labors. 



Church and Sunday-school Work. 33 



514 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

A FEW WORDS IN CONCLUSION. 

During the year 1871 five of the churches united in 
celebrating- the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. 

The total number of resident communicants as re- 
ported of the various Protestant Churches in Yonkers is 
4,715. 

Several of the churches of the city keep a list of their 
non-resident members who have not taken their letters of 
dismission to other churches. 

If that number was added to the given number of com- 
municants, the membership would be considerably larger. 
The average attendance of the Protestant Churches in 
Yonkers as reported is 5,551. 

The attendance as reported at the various masses at 
the St. Mary's and St. Joseph's Roman-catholic Churches 
is over 9,000. 

The names of the 1 sextons of the several Churches in 
Yonkers have been simply mentioned, with no record of 
their work in connection with the Churches and Sunday- 
schools. If it were possible the writer would gladly give 
the sextons of the different Churches the honor due them. 
Though their lives may be unwritten and their deeds of 
faithful and kindly ministry be unrecorded, their works do 
follow them and shall not be unaccounted of by Him who 
reckons the services of men by the spirit which stands be- 
hind and inspires them. 

One of these faithful souls, who served as sexton in 
one of the churches for a period of twenty-five years, said : 
" I always try to hallow my work with prayer ; lowly as it 
appears, I think God accepts it, even as he did the preach- 
ing of the preacher. I always try to make the house of 
God comfortable and inviting, so that the people will like 
to come to church and hear the gospel preached, and I am 



A FEW WORDS IN CONCLUSION. 515 

sure ' I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the 
Lord than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.' ' : 

The Yonkers Sunday-school Teachers' Association was 
organized on February 22, 1867. Meetings of the Asso- 
ciation were held the second Wednesday of each month, 
and were the means of bringing out the experience and 
working of each particular school for the general benefit 
and improvement of the whole, and of cultivating a social 
feeling among superintendents and teachers of the different 
Sunday-schools. The clergymen of the various Churches 
also took a deep interest in these meetings and as often as 
they could were present and took part in the discussions of 
the subjects presented. These meetings were also the 
means of the development of an earnest and aggressive 
missionary spirit among the Churches and Sunday-schools. 
They were full of interest and enthusiasm, of suggestion 
and instruction. 

The President of the Association held office for three 
months. Rev. Edward Bright, D. D., was the first President, 
and Stephen H. Thayer, Jr. — now Judge Thayer — was its 
first Secretary. The executive committee consisted of a 
gentleman from each of the various churches. The first 
executive committee was composed as follows : Chas. L. 
Cozzens, St. John's Episcopal Church ; John W. Oliver, 
First Methodist Church ; Dr. Gabriel Reevs, Reformed 
Church ; Richard Wynkoop, First Presbyterian Church ; 
Charles Seymour, St. Paul's Church ; John H. Brown, West- 
minster Presbyterian Church ; William Holme, Warburton 
Avenue Baptist Church ; C. F. Moulton, Central Methodist 
Church. 

Essays and poems, composed by several of the Superin- 
tendents and teachers of the different Sunday-schools, were 
read at the monthly meetings. Among the Superintend- 
ents who can be recalled were William A. Gibson, who 
read an essay entitled " The Perplexities of the Sunday- 
school Superintendent," Peter Haulenbeck, an essay on 
" Opportunities." Mrs. J. H. Uhl, a teacher in St. John's 
Sunday-school, and Miss Lucy Earl, of the First Presby- 
terian Church, contributed original poems. Rev. L. W. 
Mudge — now Rev. Dr. Mudge — took an active part in the 



516 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

work of the Association, and contributed a number of valu- 
able papers on several of the subjects discussed. 

At the monthly meeting in August, 1870, a poem en- 
titled " Christ at the Sea of Galilee," composed by Miss 
Anna W. Kirkwood, was read by the Vice-Superintendent 
of the First Mission Sunday-school, also an essay entitled, 
" Elements of a Successful Sunday-school," by J. H. Brown, 
the Vice-Superintendent of that school, and these were 
afterwards printed in the " Yonkers Statesman " by re- 
quest of the Association. 

The elements constituting a successful Sunday-school 
were considered under three heads. First, " A properly 
qualified superintendent and other officers ;" second, " Prop- 
erly qualified teachers;" and third, " Sundry agencies to 
bear upon the entire body — officers, teachers, and scholars." 
The subject under the three points was very ably handled 
and was considered most comprehensive and satisfactory, 
being helpful towards practical results. The subject of 
temperance was also discussed at several of the meetings 
and elicited very spirited and earnest debates. 

The first anniversary of the Association was held in 
the First Presbyterian Church on Saturday afternoon, Feb- 
ruary 22, 1868, when the following programme was an- 
nounced : Festive Song ; Reading of Scripture, Rev. Lewis 
W. Mudge ; Prayer, Rev. Dr. Behrends ; Song, " Sabbath 
Bells;" Address, Rev. J. Hyatt Smith; Song, "Battling for 
the Lord;" Address, Rev. Dr. David Cole; Song, " Uni- 
versal Praise;" Address, Rev. U. T. Tracy ; Song, " Ban- 
ner of Jesus ;" Address, Rev. Dr. D. M. Seward ; Benedic- 
tion, Rev. Dr. Crawford. 

The Association represented nine different Sunday- 
schools. The children of these schools in attendance num- 
bered twelve hundred, and when seated filled all the pews 
and aisles and space around the pulpit. The exercises were 
deeply interesting. The several sacred songs of the chil- 
dren filled the church with a melody which touched the 
hearts of all present. The solos by Miss Reynolds, of 
Brooklyn, Miss Jennie Fuller, soprano of the First Presby- 
terian Church, and by Miss Josie Sanders, alto of the 
Westminster Presbyterian Church, were beautifully sung. 



A FEW WORDS IN CONCLUSION. 517 

The Rev. Dr. Wise, of New York, and the Rev. J. 
Hyatt Smith held the attention of the audience in a charm- 
ing manner. All the addresses were to the point and were 
listened to with great satisfaction. 

There could have been no more interesting religious 
occasion in Yonkers than the gathering together of twelve 
hundred Sunday-school children and Sunday-school work- 
ers. It showed the extent to which the noble work of 
training the young in the right way was carried on in our 
then village, and it was a suggestive feature of the exhibi- 
tion that it took place on a day sacred to the memory of 
Washington, the chief among the founders of a republic 
the stability and prosperity of which most depend on all 
of its citizens being well grounded in their youth in the 
principles of virtue and religion. 

A most enjoyable sociable of the Association was held 
on Tuesday evening, June 20, 1871, at Radford Hall, from 
eight o'clock to nine o'clock being spent in greetings, con- 
gratulations and promenading. The Misses Buckley and 
Messrs. Becket and Brush, of the Weber Quartette of New 
York, sang selections. The meeting closed with the hymn, 
" Work, for the night is coming." The event was one of 
the most happily conceived and thoroughly enjoyable 
affairs of the season. There were 425 cards of invitation 
sent out, of which more than half were accepted, although 
it rained very hard all the evening. One of the speakers 
said it was "a very bright affair except the evening." The 
Rev. Dr. Bright presided as President. Excellent speeches 
were made by John W. Oliver, an ex-president of the Asso- 
ciation, the Rev. Dr. Langford, rector of St. John's Church, 
and William A. Gibson. 

It cannot be definitely ascertained when the Associa- 
tion ceased to exist, on account of its later records being 
lost. It is thought about the year 1875 or 1876. 

The fifth Annual Convention of the Hudson River 
Sunday-school Teachers' Association convened in the War- 
burton Avenue Baptist Church of Yonkers, October 12, 
1869, and continued in session for three days. 

There was an array of fine speakers. Among them were 
the Rev. John Hall, D. D., the pastor of the Fifth Avenue. 



518 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Presbyterian Church, of New York, who made the opening 
address. He was followed by the Rev. Howard Crosby, 
D. D., who spoke on the " Philosophy of Teaching." 

Other addresses were made by the Rev. Dr. Duryea, 
the Rev. George H. Mandeville, D. D., the Rev. Alfred 
Taylor, Albert Woodruff, and other prominent Sunday- 
school workers. 

The occasion was helpful to Sunday-school interests in 
Yonkers. 

In the spring of 1871 William Allen Butler gave a se- 
ries of lectures which embraced the leading subjects on the 
earlier portions of the Bible. The meetings were held in 
the lecture-room of the First Presbyterian Church in the 
afternoon at 3 : 30 o'clock. This course of Bible lessons was 
exceedingly profitable and instructive. The meetings were 
largely attended by the representative members of the 
different churches, thus proving their freedom from secta- 
rian and denominational doctrines. At their close in 
April, 1874, Rev. Wm. C. Foote moved a vote of thanks, 
which was heartily seconded by all present. Rev. Dr. T. 
Ralston Smith, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, 
made brief remarks expressive of his approval and appreci- 
ation of their great value to those who had been privileged 
to attend. 

The following statistics of the Sunday-schools of Yon- 
kers, with the exception of the Roman-catholic Sunday- 
schools and of the Tuckahoe schools, from which no report 
could be obtained, were gathered by Walter Underhill, a 
former superintendent of the Reformed Church Sunday- 
school, by the request of the Secretary of the New York 
State Teachers' Association, for the year ending January, 
1872: Number of Sunday-schools, 11 ; number of officers 
and teachers, 275 ; number of scholars, 2,453; number of 
conversions, 58 ; number of volumes in library, 6,303 : 
amount expended for books, $880 ; amount expended for 
benevolent objects, $1,613 5 amount expended for other 
objects, $2,586. 

The following figures show some of the work of Sunday- 
schools in Yonkers in the centennial year. They were 
gathered and prepared with great care. The totals of the 



A FEW WORDS IN CONCLUSION. 519 

seventeen Sunday-schools which existed at that time, inclu- 
ding the boys' department of St. Marys Roman-catholic 
Sunday-school, is as follows: Number of Sunday-schools, 
17 ; number of officers, 75 ; number of teachers, 345 ; num- 
ber of scholars on register, 4,241 ; average attendance, 2,945 ; 
largest attendance, 3,590; in infant classes, 953; conver- 
sions, 116 ; deaths, 25 ; volumes in libraries, 7,325 ; reported 
receipts, $4,398 22 ; reported expenditures, $4,096 73. 

In regard to the statistics of the Sunday-schools, as given 
in this history, the writer would state that they have in 
every case been recorded as they were received from the 
Superintendents, Secretaries, and record-books of the 
Sunday-schools, also from the reports of the pastors at 
their annual meetings of the Synods and General Con- 
ferences of their respective Churches, and no pains nor time 
has been spared to make them as accurate as possible. 

There is no doubt that the reports and statistics of the 
Sunday-schools of Yonkers could be made more valuable 
if some uniform system were adopted by which the mem- 
oranda of all the schools should be kept. 

If a yearly record were kept of the number of members 
uniting with the Churches from the Sunday-schools, the 
growth of the Church from the Sunday-school would be 
shown. 

A committee from the Young Men's Christian Associ- 
ation of Yonkers, in November, 1883, was appointed to 
inaugurate a union Sunday-school teachers' meeting, to as- 
semble in the parlor of the Association in Getty Square on 
Saturday afternoon. These meetings were well attended, 
being alternately conducted by the city pastors, and contin- 
ued through the winters of 1883-86. 

The Sunday-school Union of Yonkers, auxiliary to the 
New York State Sunday-school Association, was organized 
in June, 1890. Its officers were: Dr. Franklin Soper, Presi- 
dent ; Walter Thomas, William Smith, and Virgil Myers, 
Vice-Presidents; George T. Leeds, Recording Secretary; 
Mrs. E. C. Paton, Treasurer ; Charles E. Manning, Corre- 
sponding Secretary. 

In response to a general invitation the pastors of the 
several churches met at the Rectory of St. John's Church, 



520 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 

Monday evening, February 16, 1890, and organized a Clerical 
Association. The Rev. Alexander B. Carver was elected 
President, Rev. J. H. de Vries Secretary and Treasurer. 

Monthly meetings of the Association are held, and 
topics of general community interests are discussed. 

There have been many connected with the Churches 
and Sunday-schools of Yonkers whose names are not re- 
corded in these pages. Many of these early workers, as 
well as those of a later date, are successfully engaged in 
other fields of labor, and some have passed away from 
earth ; but death cannot put an end to their beneficent in- 
fluence, and the extent and result of their work will never 
be known in its entirety till the " books " be opened. 



APPENDIX 



THE ST. JOHN'S FOUNTAIN. 

Benjamin Silliman, architect, designer of this beauti- 
ful fountain, furnishes the following description of it : 

The St. John's Ice Water Fountain stands six feet 
back from the corner of South Broadway and Hudson 
Street, on a raised platform of rubbed bluestone tile about 
eighteen feet across, and is flanked on either side by curved 
walls of stone, three feet high, and by two circular stone 
piers, two feet four inches in diameter by five feet high. 

The fountain itself is five feet six inches in diameter, 
is cylindrical in form, is built of Mile Square rock face stone, 
with moulded brick base and foliated red terra-cotta cornice, 
with conventional honeysuckle ornament, and is surmount- 
ed by a sloping roof of solid cut stone in three courses, 
the whole terminating in an ornamental bronze Runic cross 
three feet six inches high. From the sidewalk to the cor- 
nice is a height of nine feet, and to the top of the cross 
fifteen feet. 

On the face of the fountain, fronting Broadway, is a 
bronze panel two feet wide by three feet nine inches high, 
slightly concave, and finished at the top with a semi-circular 
head, set in an opening in the stone-work with brick quoins 
and brick voussoirs. The bottom of the bronze panel is a 
large shell, or basin, to receive the drip from the faucet, 
which is arranged as a lotus flower growing up from among 
lotus leaves and buds, which are modelled across the whole 
width of the panel over the shell to the height of about six 
inches ; and over them is a slightly projecting curved shelf. 
On this shelf stands a figure of St. John the Apostle, twenty- 
two inches high, modelled in bas relief, with the conven- 
tional eagle at the feet and a nimbus around the head. 



522 APPENDIX. 

In the semi-circular head of the panel is the inscription : 
" St. John's Ice Water Fountain, Erected MDCCCXCI ;" and 
running down the panel, on either side of the figure, are 
the words of the text from John 4:13, 14: "Whosoever 
drinketh of this water shall thirst again," etc. 

At the back of the fountain, facing the church, is an 
antique oak door studded w T ith bolt-heads, and having a 
cross of bolt-heads and ornamental black iron strap-hinges 
and circular knob, all made from special designs. This 
door conceals the refrigerator, which is built into the foun- 
tain in such a way that it can easily be got at and repaired, 
should occasion for such work arise. The refrigerator is 
built of alternate layers of wood and felt, is asphalted 
inside and out, and is lined with copper. It is two feet in 
diameter, seven feet eight inches high, and contains a coil 
of two hundred and twenty-five feet of galvanized iron pipe 
suspended beneath three hundred pounds of ice. 

The fountain is supplied from a water meter, and has 
the most perfect system of drainage and convenient arrange- 
ment for turning the water off and on. The ice does not 
come in contact with the water, but only cools the space 
around the pipe containing it, so that no danger can accrue 
to health from germs carried in the ice. It is expected that 
the temperature of the water will be forty degrees Fahren- 
heit as it runs from the faucet. 

The stone-work and brick- work were done by J. and G. 
Stewart ; the carpenter work and ornamental hinges by S. F. 
Quick ; the plumbing was by Linehan Brothers ; the model- 
ling and casting of the bronze panel and cross by the Tif- 
fany Glass Company, of New York city; the bluestone 
tiling by J. and R. Kellock ; the iron doors to pit by Noble 
Walsh. 

The fountain and boundary wall have been designed 
so as to be entirely in keeping with the style of St. John's 
Church and Parish buildings. 



APPENDIX. 



523 



SUNDAY- SCHOOL HONOR ROLL. 

The following persons have been connected with their 
respective schools as officers or teachers from the date of 
organization of the later schools or for the longest period 
in the earlier ones : 



Miss A. Emeline Hoyt,* 
Miss Helen A. Rollins,-)- 
Mrs. Anna S. Burgess,f 
Miss Caroline H. Tripler,f 
Mrs. James B. Colgate, -f 
Mr. William R. Mott, 
Mr. Horace H. Thayer, 
Mr. Samuel A. Moore, 
Mrs. George W. Cobb, 
Mrs. Dewitt C. Kellinger, 
Mr. John P. Groshon, 
Miss Caroline Jones,- 
Mr. Charles R. Dusenberry, 
Mr. I. V. Underhill, 
Mrs. Elizabeth Merritt, 
Miss M. Arsenia, 
Mr. Charles R. Otis, 
Mr. A. O. Kirkwood, 
Miss M. Josie Sanders, 
* Deceased. 



Miss Mary A. Croes, 
Miss Sophia Macadam. 
Mr. John Forsyth, 
Mr. J. Willet Bynon, 
Mr. Charles P. Bynon, 
Mrs. Charles P. Bynon, 
Mr. Wallace Pulver, 
Mrs. Rebecca Madison, 
Mr. William Beutler, 
Mr. Charles Lockwood, 
Mrs. A. E. C. Hyde, 
Miss M. Stephens, 
Rev. Charles S. Fariess, 
Mr. Herman H. Kroenke ; 
Mrs. Henry Bowers, 
Mr. George Stewart, 
Mr. Wells Olmsted. 
Miss Mary Randolph, 
Miss Janet W. Flagg. 



t These ladies have been engaged in Sunday-school work in Yonkers 
about the same number of years, and their names stand second in the list. 



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